In a bold and unprecedented move, Lawyer Kepher Ojijo has filed a motion with the Law Society of Kenya (LSK) to strike Deputy President Kithure Kindiki and Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen off the roll of advocates.
The petition accuses the two prominent leaders, both practicing advocates, of gross misconduct and egregious violations of Kenya’s Constitution, actions deemed incompatible with the sacred oath they swore as advocates of the High Court.
This audacious legal challenge, rooted in allegations of human rights abuses and unconstitutional directives, has ignited a firestorm of debate, exposing the deepening rift between Kenya’s leadership and its commitment to justice and accountability.
Ojijo’s motion, filed amid mounting public outrage, argues that Kindiki and Murkomen have betrayed their professional and constitutional obligations through actions that undermine the rule of law. The LSK, under pressure to address the conduct of these high-profile figures, is now tasked with determining whether their alleged transgressions warrant removal from the advocates’ roll—a move that could tarnish their legal and political legacies.
Central to the petition is Interior CS Kipchumba Murkomen’s inflammatory directive to police officers, issued on June 27, 2025, authorizing the use of lethal force against anyone approaching or threatening police stations. Speaking after violent protests on June 25, Murkomen declared, “Anyone who comes near a police station, shoot them,” a statement that sparked widespread condemnation from human rights groups and political leaders alike. The directive, which Murkomen claimed was sanctioned “from above,” was labeled illegal and unconstitutional by LSK President Faith Odhiambo, who warned that officers complying with such orders would face personal prosecution.
Critics, including Wiper Leader Kalonzo Musyoka, decried the directive as a dangerous escalation, risking anarchy and further eroding public trust in the state. Murkomen’s remarks came in the wake of protests that left at least eight dead and hundreds injured.
Equally damning is the accusation against Deputy President Kithure Kindiki, who, as former Interior CS, oversaw a brutal crackdown on Gen Z protests in June, July, and August 2024. Kindiki’s tenure was marked by the deaths of at least 61 protesters, 67 enforced disappearances, and hundreds of injuries, according to human rights reports.
His characterization of protesters as “terrorists” and his repeated bans on demonstrations were deemed unconstitutional, violating the right to assemble guaranteed under Article 37 of the Constitution. Kindiki’s defense of the National Police Service, claiming “99 percent of officers have no issues,” was seen as dismissive of widespread allegations of extrajudicial killings and abductions, further inflaming public discontent. His actions, including overseeing the killing of pastoralists in northern Kenya under the guise of combating “banditry,” have been cited as evidence of a pattern of disregard for constitutional values and human rights.
The LSK’s petition, bolstered by Ojijo’s motion, argues that Kindiki and Murkomen’s conduct in public office meets the threshold for disciplinary action. Former LSK President Nelson Havi, a vocal critic, has long warned that the duo’s actions risk tarnishing the society’s reputation, urging swift action to address their alleged complicity in state-sanctioned violence. The Kenya Human Rights Commission has echoed these calls, demanding their resignation over their roles in abductions and protest suppression.
As Kenya grapples with a crisis of governance and escalating public dissent, Ojijo’s motion is a clarion call for accountability. The outcome of this petition could redefine the boundaries of legal and political responsibility, sending a powerful message that no one is above the law—not even the nation’s highest-ranking officials. With the LSK now under scrutiny to act decisively, the nation watches closely, awaiting justice for those lost to state violence and a reckoning for those who wield power without restraint.
