Nakuru lawyers join nationwide peacefull purple Ribbon Walk to honor slain colleagues

Lawyers in Nakuru joined their counterparts across the country in a peaceful Purple Ribbon Walk to honor slain advocates Edward Kariuki Muthee and Esther Wairimu Keige while demanding justice and greater protection for members of the legal profession.

Walking with purple ribbons pinned to their lapels, members of the Law Society of Kenya (LSK) Nakuru Chapter marched through the town in solidarity with colleagues nationwide, saying advocates should be allowed to discharge their professional duties without fear of intimidation, abduction, or death.

LSK Nakuru Chapter Chairperson Wangare Mwangi said the killings had instilled fear within the profession, warning that the safety of advocates was essential to the administration of justice.

“Today we stand in solidarity with our fallen colleagues who have been murdered in the line of duty. It is quite unfortunate because this can happen to any of us. If members of the Law Society of Kenya cannot do their jobs, express themselves or work without fear of being abducted or murdered, then we must ask ourselves what kind of country we are living in,” she said.

She called on investigative agencies to expedite investigations and ensure those responsible are prosecuted.

“Our plea to the relevant investigative authorities is that they bring the culprits to book. Advocates should be able to work without fear of death or abduction. It is deeply troubling that we have reached a point where lawyers are subjected to such measures simply for doing their jobs,” she added.

Wangare noted that although one of the slain advocates had been working in Nairobi, he had previously practiced in Nakuru, making the tragedy personal for the local chapter.

“Edward worked in Nakuru for about four years, was our colleague, and he still is our colleague. Whether an advocate is based in Nairobi, Nakuru, Eldoret, or Kitale does not matter. He was one of us, and we will continue following up to ensure justice is served," she said.

Mark Githiru, a lawyer based in Nakuru, said he was a classmate of Esther Wairimu Keige and described her death as a painful loss to the legal fraternity.

He said Wairimu, a legal officer with the Kenya Forest Service, died while carrying out her professional duty of defending public land in Karura Forest.

“We are very saddened that she died in the course of her duties as a lawyer for KFS because she was defending public land in Karura Forest. Lawyers should not die in the course of their duties simply because they refuse to comply with unlawful demands,” he said.

Githiru called for comprehensive investigations into the circumstances surrounding her death, saying those responsible, including anyone who may have exerted unlawful pressure on her, should be held accountable.

Former Law Society of Kenya (LSK) Nakuru Branch Chair David Mong'eri said the killings reflected a worrying trend in which advocates were increasingly facing threats while carrying out their professional duties.

“As the Constitution clearly mandates, the right to life is guaranteed. We should not have to beg to remain alive,” he said.

He urged the government to ensure thorough investigations into the deaths of the advocates and bring those responsible to justice.