- Kenya School of Law student leaders gathered at the Milimani Law Courts to protest the alleged police assault on their former president Joshua Okayo
- The student body condemned the incident, saying Okayo was targeted and hospitalised after being harassed by a police officer who had earlier issued threats
- The leaders called for urgent action from the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) and the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP)
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TUKO.co.ke journalist Harry Ivan Mboto has over three years of experience reporting on politics and current affairs in Kenya
Tempers flared at Milimani Law Courts as law students stepped forward, not to argue a case, but to demand justice for one of their own.
The June 13 protest by Kenya School of Law (KSL) leaders was sparked by the alleged brutal assault of former student president Joshua Okayo, who was reportedly beaten by police during a peaceful demonstration the day before.
The students said Okayo, currently undertaking his pupillage, was attacked while exercising his constitutional right to picket on June 12 in Nairobi.
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His injuries resulted in hospitalisation, prompting fellow students to rally in solidarity and condemnation.
According to the KSL secretary-general, the assault was an attack on the right to peaceful assembly.
“We heavily condemn what happened yesterday, and we stand in solidarity with the family of Joshua Okayo and with him,” he said, vowing that the students would not be silenced.
Who attacked Joshua Okayo, and why?
KSL President Samuel Mark disclosed that the officer behind the assault was not only known but had issued prior threats to Okayo.
“He told Joshua, ‘I’ve marked you and I’ll find you,’” Mark revealed, referencing a confrontation during an earlier protest outside Central Police Station.
Mark called on the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) and the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) to act swiftly, noting that Okayo remained a part of the KSL community despite completing his term as president.
He further linked the attack to a broader pattern of police misconduct, highlighting the recent death of blogger Albert Ojwang while in police custody.
“The institution is mourning. We are demanding answers,” he said.
The students demanded the full implementation of the National Coroners Service Act, which provides for independent investigations into deaths in custody, and urged the state to enhance IPOA’s capacity to investigate and deliver justice.
Mark reaffirmed the students’ commitment to pursuing justice for both Okayo and Ojwang.
“We will not relent until justice is achieved for both,” he said.
He warned state officials against turning peaceful protest into a punishable offence, declaring that freedom of expression is a right, not a privilege.
Referencing the 2016 case of Robert Alai vs. attorney general, Mark underscored that criticism of public officials is protected by law.
“Once someone has taken the position to become a public official, he shall be ready for criticism,” he said.
He echoed Justice Evans Muita’s ruling that affirmed the public’s right to hold leaders accountable, adding that the law students will not retreat, and the Constitution must be upheld, especially by those sworn to protect it.
Source: TUKO.co.ke
