The Law Society of Kenya (LSK) has threatened to prosecute police officers who allegedly assaulted Embakasi East MP Paul Ongili alias Babu Owino.
Through a statement by LSK Chairperson Isaac Okero, the body condemned the police for allegedly manhandling the MP when arresting him at the Milimani Law Courts.
Okero questioned why close to half a dozen officers apprehended Owino which he said was an abuse of the statutory power of arrest under section 58 of the National Police Service Act.
“They have acted in violation of the authority of the constitution and have ignored their constitutional duties to observe the national values and principles of good governance and the values and principles of public service,” he stated.
He faulted the officers for reportedly restricting MP Otiende Amollo, who is Owino's lawyer, from communicating with his client after the arrest.
The LSK boss further promised to take action against the anti-riot officers who were deployed to disperse NASA protesters during Tuesday's anti-IEBC demos.
He condemned them for use of excessive force noting that they should have first used non-violent means rather than resulting to brutality.
Okero has now asked Inspector General Joseph Boinnet to disclose the officers involved in the two incidents for the Director of Public Prosecutions to take action.
“Only prompt action by the Inspector General of Police will assure Kenyans that our nation is not sliding into the repressive condition of a police state,” he urged.
Failure to that, LSK has vowed to initiate private prosecutions of the officers concerned for “the violation of the provisions of the constitution and of the provisions of the National Police Service Act”.
