The Law Society of Kenya (LSK) has dismissed allegations of conducting a fundraiser to bail out those arrested during the recent demonstrations.
In a statement on Saturday morning, the Law Society said it had received reports of individuals purporting to be its members, conning unsuspecting members of the public under the guise of raising funds to bail out protesters.
According to the LSK, the fundraising programme currently being conducted by the said individuals is in no way linked to the organisation, and it has never endorsed such a drive.
Members of the public were therefore urged to be vigilant against such fraudulent schemes and to verify similar appeals before making any contributions.
"LSK has received reports of individuals soliciting funds to raise bail for persons arrested during the recent riots. Please note that the said fundraising drive is not being conducted or endorsed by LSK's National Office," read part of the statement.
"We advise members of the public to verify any such appeals before making any contributions. Beware of fraudulent schemes," the Law Society added.
The warning notice comes at a time when hundreds of Kenyans who participated in the recent protests are still held in various police cells and remand prisons across the country.
While some are yet to be formally charged in a court of law, others have already been charged with various offences, including terrorism, but remain in custody due to their inability to pay the required bond or bail.
On Saturday, July 18, Kirinyaga Woman Representative Jane Njeri Maina, who also doubles as a lawyer, decried the exorbitant bond and bail terms imposed on the protesters charged before the courts.
To assist those who could not afford the bond and bail, Njeri went ahead to share a pay bill number for Kenyans of goodwill to contribute on behalf of the detainees.
"There are two young ladies, 21 and 24, whom I ran into at Kahawa law courts last week. They had been admitted to a cash bail of Ksh200,000, and their guardians have been unable to raise the same," she commented.
"Allow me to thank LSK, led by our President Faith Odhiambo, and every advocate who has taken Gen-Z matters pro bono. Thank you for holding fort," she added.
Njeri Maina's Response
In her statement, Njeri Maina expressed strong criticism against the government for unjustly labelling young Kenyans as terrorists, which, according to her, was a grave human rights violation.
She noted that the terrorism charges against the youthful protesters were a scheme by the current administration to suppress dissent, particularly among Gen Z.
According to her, most of the youths arrested during the recent protests were between the ages of 18 to 25, with some being students.
"They’re deeply traumatised, most have never seen the inside of a police station. It is an attempt to criminalise young people’s dissent and deter any future attempt to exercise art," she said.
Njeri further stated that the majority of young Kenyans arrested during the protests come from underprivileged families and have been unable to raise bail, prompting her to come up with viable means of helping them.
To address the concerns, the lawmaker called on the international community to intervene in the same way they helped in funding the establishment of the Kahawa Law Courts.
"Over 100 Gen-Zs, already admitted to bail and bond terms, are still behind bars. Though a point for proof, the majority were just picked up on their way home from school, their hustles, while with friends or from their homes," Njeri revealed.
"It is downright cruel that those young persons are being remanded in Maximum Prison facilities, with more restrictions on access by their families and within the vicinity of convicted offenders."
