Following the brutal killing of Advocate Mathew Kyalo Mbobu, public interest legal aid group Sheria Mtaani na Shadrack Wambui has petitioned the Law Society of Kenya (LSK) Council to urgently pursue enhanced security measures for advocates across the country.
In a detailed letter addressed to the Council, the Ongata Rongai and Nairobi-based organization lamented the increasing dangers faced by lawyers in the course of their work, citing the recent loss of Mbobu and recalling the tragic deaths of other colleagues including 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 advocates often find themselves exposed to mortal risks not only in contentious litigation but also in non-contentious legal practice.
The organization through lawyer Shadrach Wambui notes that while the LSK has consistently stood by its members in moments of threat, it remains constrained by its statutory limits and cannot independently guarantee physical security.
It therefore urged the Society to actively engage with the Ministry of Interior and other security agencies to secure structured protections for advocates.
Specifically, Sheria Mtaani raised concerns over the implementation of the Firearms Act, pointing out that advocates applying for firearm certificates are routinely denied despite facing heightened risks in their line of duty.
“It has become an open secret that where an advocate and a politician seek certification contemporaneously, the outcome is virtually predetermined,” the letter stated, terming the disparity “indefensible.”
The petition calls on the LSK Council to summon or invite Interior Cabinet Secretary Onesimus Kipchumba Murkomen—himself an advocate and member of the Society—to deliberate on practical solutions.
Sheria Mtaani expressed confidence that Murkomen, “being well acquainted with the realities and perils of practice,” would appreciate the urgency of the matter.
The letter urged the Council to act promptly, warning that the loss of Mbobu and others should serve as a call to action rather than be left as mere statistics.
“Had our departed colleagues been afforded the security herein envisioned, their fate might have been different,” it reads.
Sheria Mtaani requested a response from the LSK within seven days, expressing hope that the initiative will yield “tangible and proactive measures” to safeguard advocates who continue to serve on the frontline of justice and human rights.
