NAIROBI, Kenya – Public interest legal aid group Sheria Mtaani na Shadrack Wambui has petitioned the Law Society of Kenya (LSK) Council to urgently push for enhanced security measures for lawyers following the brutal killing of Advocate Mathew Kyalo Mbobu.
In a letter to the Council, the Ongata Rongai and Nairobi-based group lamented the growing dangers facing members of the legal profession, citing Mbobu’s death and recalling previous tragedies involving Advocates Anthony Nahashon Ngunjiri, Elizabeth Koki Musyoki, Willie Kimani, and Mandela Nabaala.
“The practice of law, though noble in purpose, is fraught with peril,” the petition reads in part, adding that lawyers are exposed to mortal risks not only in contentious litigation but also in routine practice.
Sheria Mtaani, through lawyer Shadrack Wambui, noted that while the LSK has consistently defended its members in moments of crisis, the society’s statutory mandate limits its ability to provide physical protection.
The petition urged the Council to engage the Ministry of Interior and security agencies for structured protections.
Among the concerns raised is the implementation of the Firearms Act, with the group arguing that advocates applying for firearm certificates are routinely denied, while politicians are favoured.
“It has become an open secret that where an advocate and a politician seek certification contemporaneously, the outcome is virtually predetermined,” the letter stated, calling the disparity “indefensible.”
The group further called on the LSK Council to summon or invite Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen for deliberations on practical solutions, expressing confidence that he would “appreciate the urgency of the matter.”
Sheria Mtaani urged the Council to act swiftly, warning that the deaths of Mbobu and others must serve as a wake-up call.
“Had our departed colleagues been afforded the security herein envisioned, their fate might have been different,” the petition added.
The group has requested a formal response from the LSK within seven days, expressing hope that the initiative will lead to tangible measures to safeguard lawyers working at the frontline of justice and human rights.
