Calls to Reinstate Justice Mugambi’s Security Detail by the LSK ,NCCK and General public.

Various groups, including the general public, civil society bodies, the National Council of Churches of Kenya (NCCK), and the Law Society of Kenya (LSK), have urged the National Police Service (NPS) to restore the security detail of Justice Lawrence Mugambi.

The security for Justice Mugambi was withdrawn on Sunday, September 15, 2024, shortly after he handed a six-month prison sentence to Acting Inspector General of Police Gilbert Masengeli for contempt of court.

On Monday, September 16, 2024, LSK President Faith Odhiambo strongly criticized the move, labeling it a breach of the rule of law and a threat to judicial independence. The NCCK echoed similar sentiments, arguing that the action was intended to intimidate the judiciary and undermine the rule of law. Both organizations stressed the need for the executive and other entities to respect the rule of law.

During a press briefing, LSK President Odhiambo expressed alarm over the developments concerning Justice Mugambi, who had issued a habeas corpus order in the case Law Society of Kenya & 3 Others v. Inspector General of Police & 4 Others (Petition No. E436 of 2024). The case resulted in contempt proceedings that led to the Acting Inspector General’s sentencing on September 13, 2024.

Odhiambo described the removal of Justice Mugambi’s security as a deliberate act of retaliation, characterizing it as a direct challenge to judicial independence, a violation of the rule of law, and a disregard for the principles enshrined in Kenya's Constitution.