Law Society of Kenya (LSK) President Charles Kanjama/FILELaw Society of Kenya (LSK) President Charles Kanjama has said the society is ready to initiate accountability processes against public officials linked to political violence if credible evidence is provided.
Speaking on NTV on Thursday, Kanjama said LSK would rely on evidence from journalists and members of the public to identify officials who may bear responsibility for political violence and pursue the appropriate legal processes.
“For me, one word: accountability. LSK has taken upon itself that responsibility of trying to promote accountability,” Kanjama said.
He said the society’s approach would be to examine available evidence before taking action, including pursuing processes for the removal from office of officials against whom evidence points to accountability.
“If we get the required level of evidence from the media or other well-meaning Kenyans, what we want to do is to start processes of removal from office of whichever officer we find the evidence is pointing to as the person accountable,” he said.
Kanjama said LSK had established structures that could handle such matters, including its Public Interest Litigation Committee and Rule of Law Committee.
“Give us the evidence, allow us to process it,” he said.
He added that criminal proceedings, civil claims for compensation and engagement with constitutional commissions and independent offices could also form part of wider accountability efforts.
Kanjama was responding to concerns over the growing visibility of political violence ahead of the 2027 General Election.
He described political “goonism” as a sign of impunity and said responsibility for protecting citizens’ civil and political rights rested with institutions established under the Constitution.
Kanjama said the National Security Council, chaired by the President, has a central constitutional role in matters of national security.
He also pointed to the Ministry of Interior and the National Police Service as institutions with responsibilities for maintaining security and protecting citizens.
He said other institutions, including the National Cohesion and Integration Commission, Parliament, constitutional commissions and independent offices, also had roles to play in addressing political violence, hate speech and intimidation.
Kanjama said Parliament should be able to hold its members accountable where allegations of misconduct arise, while institutions mandated to protect human rights should act within their constitutional responsibilities.
He also noted that courts have a role in handling cases brought before them, saying accountability involves several institutions rather than one office.
The LSK president said the ultimate responsibility for national security under Chapter 14 of the Constitution rests with the President, while the Inspector-General of Police has responsibility within the National Police Service.
