Following the shocking murder of Advocate Mathew Kyalo Mbobu, public interest legal aid group Sheria Mtaani na Shadrack Wambui has called on the Law Society of Kenya (LSK) to take urgent action to protect lawyers from rising threats.
In a letter sent to the LSK Council, the Ongata Rongai and Nairobi-based group expressed deep concern over the increasing risks faced by legal professionals.
They reminded the Council of past tragedies involving lawyers, including the murders of Anthony Nahashon Ngunjiri, Elizabeth Koki Musyoki, Willie Kimani, and Mandela Nabaala, saying that Mbobu’s death should be a wake-up call.
“The practice of law, though noble, is fraught with peril,” the petition reads. “Advocates find themselves exposed to mortal danger not only during high-profile cases but also while handling everyday legal work.”
Sheria Mtaani asked LSK to actively engage the Ministry of Interior and security agencies to create structured protection for advocates, including reviewing the Firearms Act.
The group claimed that lawyers applying for firearm licenses are often denied, even when they face threats.
“It is an open secret that when a lawyer and a politician apply for a firearm license at the same time, the politician’s approval is almost guaranteed,” the group said, calling the situation unfair and dangerous.
The organization further urged LSK to invite Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen to meet with the Council and discuss long-term solutions.
Sheria Mtaani stressed that the killing of Mbobu must not become “just another statistic” but a turning point for legal practitioners’ safety. They have given the LSK seven days to respond, expressing hope that the initiative will lead to real action.
“If our departed colleagues had been afforded the security we are demanding, their fate might have been different,” the letter reads.
This call for action comes as lawyers across Kenya express fear over targeted attacks and kidnappings, especially those handling sensitive cases.
