A lawyer and his client have been missing for the last four days after they were kidnapped as they left the court
Police said that Willie Kimani, a lawyer with the International Justice Mission (IJM), his client Josephat Mwendwa and a taxi driver Joseph Muiruri went missing at around noon on June 23.
The three were carjacked while returning to the home of the client after a court hearing in Mavoko. The Law Society of Kenya has started a campaign on social media to help trace Mr Kimani and the two.
Below is a statement from LSK
Willie Kimani – LSK Member No P105/8920/11, a young lawyer working as an investigator with the International Justice Mission went missing on 23-6-2016 together with his client Josephat Mwendwa and their taxi driver Joseph Muiruri. Their whereabouts remain unknown.
Willie’s employer believes they may have been abducted after attending court in Mavoko for a case involving an officer of the Administration Police.
Like the many thousand advocates who are members of the Law Society of Kenya , Willie swore an oath “to faithfully represent his client while advancing the rule of law and protecting the constitution without fear or favour.” We are now receiving from some of our members reports that suggest that threats and intimidation are becoming the order of the day, particularly when handling certain criminal cases. It is completely unacceptable for him or indeed any advocate to be subjected to threats, intimidation, fear of harm or the risk of deprivation of life while discharging one’s duty as an advocate.
It is an outrage that this is happening in our country. If criminals know that ‘taking out’ advocates and witnesses is the way to succeed in court then the justice system and the rule of law begin to crumble. This climate of terror must end. Willie Kimani, his client Josephat Mwendwa and their driver Joseph Muiruri must be found. Those responsible for their abduction must be brought to justice. This is a very serious threat to the profession and to the administration of justice.
The Law Society of Kenya has been receiving reports also from members of the public of the disappearance of Kenyans, last seen at the hands of Administration Police officers. We have been informed of two young Kenyans, Erickson Aluda Mambo and Brian Nzenze who were last seen being escorted to the Kawangare Chief’s Camp on the 1st June 2016. These reports suggest there are rogue elements within the Administration Police responsible for such disappearances and who are acting to terrorise Kenyans. We demand to know what the IGP and IPOA are doing about this.
We remind the IGP that over one year has passed since the LSK wrote to him asking to know where investigations into the disappearance of Advocate Albert Muriuki had reached. Albert vanished on the 30th December, 2013 and has never been seen since.
The Law Society of Kenya calls upon all its members to don purple ribbons beginning tomorrow to show solidarity with our missing brother Willie Kimani, and remembering our brother Albert Muriuki, to demonstrate that we pray for Willie’s safe return and that of his two companions and to express outrage at this impunity that threatens the administration of justice.
Isaac E.N. Okero
LSK President
