Members of the Law Society of Kenya (LSK) have disowned Nairobi lawyer Cliff Ombetta, who is representing three police officers suspected of killing advocate Willie Kimani and two other people.
Mr Ombetta has been criticized on grounds that he chose to represent people accused of brutally murdering his colleague.
LSK President Isaac Okero had earlier announced that no lawyer registered with the society would take up the case.
In a statement, the lawyers said that what happened to Kimani could have happened to him (Ombeta).
“The impunity surrounding this matter is of high proportions and of national importance. It takes a much more serious dimension when law enforcers abduct a person, murder and dump the body in a sack. This could happen to anyone, including lawyer Ombeta himself,” said Mr Ochieng Oduol on behalf of the lawyers.
Ombetta found himself in more trouble after he appeared in court putting on a purple ribbon that was meant to show solidarity with Kimani, yet he was defending the alleged killers.
The lawyer, who is known to take up murder and drug trafficking cases, defended himself, saying that every accused person was entitled to legal representation.
Many took to Twitter to question Ombetta over his decision to represent the murder suspects.
Three Administration Police officers — Senior Sergeant Fredrick Leliman, Corporal Stephen Chebulet and Constable Silvia Wanjiku Wanjohi were represented by Ombetta on Monday when they appeared in court.
The three are accused of killing Kimani, his client Josephat Mwenda and a taxicab driver Joseph Muiruri
