The Law Society of Kenya (LSK) President Charles Kanjama has issued a warning against any attempt by regional governments to coordinate action against youth-led civic movements.

Senior Counsel Kanjama said that such a move would be a direct violation of constitutional rights and would be met with firm legal resistance.

His statement comes in the wake of remarks by Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan suggesting coordinated regional action to suppress youth-led civic expression across East Africa.

Kanjama described the remarks as raising grave constitutional and rule of law concerns within the East African Community.

LSK reminded both governments that the Constitution of Kenya is clear on the rights of citizens to express themselves, associate freely, and assemble peacefully under Articles 33, 36, and 37, and that these are not privileges granted by the state but protected rights that form the very foundation of democratic governance.

“Demands for accountability, transparency and respect for human rights cannot be characterised as disorder. They are an essential feature of constitutional democracy,” the statement read.

The Society further reminded authorities that Articles 27, 28, and 29 of the Constitution protect equality, human dignity, and freedom from cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment, and that these safeguards are absolute and cannot be overridden by executive direction or political convenience.

“Constitutional rights are not negotiable, and they are not subject to suppression in the name of order. Any attempt to undermine these freedoms will be met with firm institutional resistance through legal, civic and regional accountability mechanisms,” the LSK warned.

The society also pushed back against the idea that citizen engagement is a threat to stability, arguing that the appropriate response to people raising concerns is dialogue, not deterrence or force.

It called on all governments in the region to uphold constitutional norms, respect the rights of their citizens, and engage constructively rather than reaching for coercive measures whenever young people speak up.

The LSK closed by reaffirming its commitment to defending the Constitution and protecting fundamental freedoms, not just in Kenya but across the region.