Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen has strongly criticized Law Society of Kenya (LSK) President Faith Odhiambo, accusing her and the legal body she leads of siding with individuals he labelled as “criminals” and “terrorists.”
Murkomen made the bold accusations on Wednesday, July 23, while addressing the press at the Jukwaa la Usalama forum in Uasin Gishu County.
According to Murkomen, there is a worrying shift in the legal profession where some lawyers, including those in leadership roles at the LSK, appear more concerned about defending suspects than safeguarding the lives and property of ordinary Kenyans.
He specifically condemned efforts by the LSK president to push for lighter bail terms for individuals arrested in connection with violent protests, destruction of public infrastructure, and attacks on government property.
“As a member of the Law Society of Kenya, I disagree completely with anyone who tries to normalize or excuse the actions of those burning police stations, looting supermarkets, torching government vehicles and homes, or stealing weapons. These are not just crimes—they are acts of terrorism,” Murkomen said firmly.
Murkomen went on to allege that the violent demonstrations that took place on June 25 and July 7 were not spontaneous but rather part of a larger, well-funded plan to destabilize the country. He claimed that there were deliberate attempts to ferry hired troublemakers from different counties to Eldoret and other towns to spark chaos.
“We have credible intelligence on who financed the unrest and who planned it. Investigations are almost complete, especially on those funding the violence and their local collaborators. Soon, arrests will follow, and all responsible parties will face full prosecution,” he revealed.
The CS added that the government is treating the incidents as terrorism, and those arrested in connection with the violence will be charged under the Prevention of Terrorism Act, a law that outlines severe penalties for actions threatening national stability.
“If anyone dares attempt similar actions again, even here in Eldoret, we will not hesitate to prosecute them as terrorists. That’s exactly what their conduct amounts to,” he warned.
Murkomen didn’t stop there. He delivered a stern warning to political figures accused of inciting unrest or mobilizing youth for unlawful protests. He said the government would act swiftly and without leniency against anyone trying to paralyze public services or endanger lives for political reasons.
“We will come down hard on politicians attempting to import violence into this county or any other part of the country. They will face the law, and this time, they won’t walk away unpunished,” he vowed.
He urged the LSK to stand with Kenyans by promoting justice and national unity, not by defending individuals who are working to break the law and destabilize peace.
“The Law Society of Kenya must put the interest of wananchi (ordinary citizens) first. It should not be seen as siding with criminals who endanger public safety,” he emphasized.
Although Murkomen didn’t directly name activist Boniface Mwangi, his comments appeared to refer to a recent case where the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) and the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) dropped terror charges against Mwangi.
Murkomen insisted that the government had not abandoned the case. He warned that if any new evidence emerges connecting Mwangi to those initial allegations, the authorities would not hesitate to reopen the matter.
“Just because the charges were dropped does not mean the case is closed forever. If fresh evidence comes up, action will definitely be taken,” he concluded.
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