Leaders Call for End to Impunity as Legal Awareness Week Opens.
By Editorial Team.
Nairobi, October 27, 2025 — Leaders have urged the justice system to confront impunity and uphold the rule of law as the Law Society of Kenya (LSK) launched this year’s Legal Awareness Week at the Milimani Law Courts.
People’s Liberation Party leader Martha Karua commended LSK for its tireless efforts in defending human rights, describing the society as the country’s “number one public defender.” She noted that LSK has consistently stood up for Kenyans, especially during times of political unrest and police crackdowns.
“We have gone through very hard times in Kenya recently, and it is the LSK that has stood up for the rights of the people going to courts, mobilizing members, and rescuing citizens from police stations. Please, Madam President and your team, don’t get tired. We still require this service,” she said.
This year’s Legal Awareness Week runs under the theme “The Justice System as an Enabler of Impunity.”Karua said the theme challenges all players in the justice chain from police officers and prosecutors to judges and advocates to reflect on how their actions can either protect or weaken justice.
“When the public offers bribes, when courts delay rulings, when prosecutors charge people with unmerited offenses, and when judicial officers misapply the law, they all enable impunity,” she added.
She also called on judicial officers to speed up pending cases and on the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions to ensure the law is never used to suppress citizens’ rights. She further condemned the loss of exhibits in courts, saying it undermines public trust in justice.
LSK President Faith Odhiambo said the theme is a reminder that impunity thrives when institutions fail to deliver justice or when court orders are ignored. “Our Constitution guarantees every person access to justice, but impunity is seen when files disappear, when court orders are disobeyed, and when justice is delayed,” she said. “This week, our members will be engaging the public to educate them about their rights and provide free legal aid services.”
Kenya National Commission on Human Rights CEO Lady Justice Patricia Nyaundi echoed the call, saying the judiciary must stand firm as the last line of defense against lawlessness and corruption.
“Impunity is a heavy word,” she said. “When we place the words ‘justice’ and ‘impunity’ in the same sentence, it shows how serious our reflection must be.”
The Legal Awareness Week brings together legal professionals, civil society, and members of the public to promote access to justice and strengthen the rule of law across the country.
