A Nairobi lawyer was on Tuesday evening shot dead in a drive-by attack in the Galleria Brookside area along Magadi Road in Nairobi, sparking outrage from the legal fraternity and fresh calls for government action on rising insecurity.
The victim, Advocate Kyalo Mbobu, a senior lawyer with three decades of practice, was gunned down shortly after 7:30 p.m. by an assailant on a motorcycle who sped off after the attack.
Following the killing, Law Society of Kenya (LSK) President Faith Odhiambo issued a strongly worded statement, demanding swift investigations and accountability from security agencies. She described the murder as a brutal and premeditated assassination that pointed to the dangerous climate facing legal practitioners in the country.
“The Law Society of Kenya expresses profound grief and concern following the brutal gunning down of Mr. Kyalo Mbobu, a reputable Advocate of the High Court of Kenya with a resounding three decades of practice. This most unfortunate occurrence marks a sad day for the legal profession and for the entire country,” Odhiambo stated.
The LSK President conveyed condolences to Mbobu’s family, friends, and colleagues while hailing his contributions to the legal and governance space.
Mbobu previously served as the Chairperson of the Political Parties Dispute Tribunal and was also a lecturer at the University of Nairobi, where he mentored generations of young lawyers. His texts on the law of evidence remain widely referenced within the legal community, according to colleagues who mourned him on Tuesday evening.
Odhiambo decried the growing trend of violence, intimidation, and retribution targeting advocates, stressing that the legal profession cannot function effectively under constant threat.
“The effective discharge of the constitutional functions of Advocates requires an environment that facilitates autonomy to work without fear of persecution. We decry this detestable act, and demand that the perpetrators be hunted down and brought to book,” she added.
She called on the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) to launch immediate and thorough investigations into the killing, warning that any delay would cast doubt on the government’s commitment to protecting its citizens.
“We anticipate that equal urgency and professionalism will be applied in concluding this matter. Anything else will be an indictment of the capacity of our Security Organs to discharge their mandate,” she said.
The LSK President also linked the murder to wider concerns about insecurity across the country, noting that criminals appear to operate with impunity in both rural and urban settings.
“The free reign of crime in our streets and communities is an affront to the liberties and the lawfulness that make Kenya a Constitutional Democracy. Our security agencies have an immediate duty to act decisively in putting an end to this growing menace,” she emphasised.
According to Odhiambo, the killing of Mbobu must serve as a wake-up call for the state to address security lapses that embolden criminals. She maintained that the government has a constitutional responsibility to guarantee safety for all citizens, including professionals whose work often exposes them to risks.
