Kenyan lawyers to strike over police brutality

By Magdalene Mukami

NAIROBI, Kenya

Lawyers in Kenya are to stage a week-long strike in protest at the killing of a lawyer amid allegations of extra-judicial killings by the police, a lawyers’ group said Saturday.

The body of Willie Kimani was discovered in the Ol Donyo Sabuk river 70 kilometers (43 miles) northeast of Nairobi on Friday. He had been representing a client who had been allegedly shot and wounded by police in a traffic stop. The men and their taxi driver disappeared more than a week ago.

Three police officers have been arrested in connection with the killings.

In a statement, the Law Society of Kenya said lawyers will hold a protest on Monday over police killings and brutality.

“It has become necessary to draw the line on these extra-judicial killings at the hands of police death squads,” Isaac Okero, the law society’s president, said.

The reputation of Kenya’s police service has been tarnished recently by the beating of protesters and a wave of killings many blame on rogue officers.

By Magdalene Mukami

NAIROBI, Kenya

Lawyers in Kenya are to stage a week-long strike in protest at the killing of a lawyer amid allegations of extra-judicial killings by the police, a lawyers’ group said Saturday.

Three police officers have been arrested in connection with the killings.

In a statement, the Law Society of Kenya said lawyers will hold a protest on Monday over police killings and brutality.

“It has become necessary to draw the line on these extra-judicial killings at the hands of police death squads,” Isaac Okero, the law society’s president, said.

The reputation of Kenya’s police service has been tarnished recently by the beating of protesters and a wave of killings many blame on rogue officers.