The President of the Law Society of Kenya, Charles Kanjama, has called for an immediate and thorough investigation into the brutal killing of advocate Tom Ouya Imbukwa, warning that the circumstances surrounding his death raise grave concerns about the safety of legal practitioners in the country.
In a strongly worded statement issued on Wednesday, April 22, Kanjama said the society had received news of Imbukwa’s death “with profound shock and grief,” describing the incident as a devastating blow to Kenya’s legal fraternity.
According to the LSK, Imbukwa was allegedly subjected to severe assault and torture before being murdered by unknown assailants in what the society termed a “heinous and unacceptable act.”
“Our colleague was assaulted, tortured, and murdered by unknown persons. The circumstances surrounding Tom’s death demand our unequivocal condemnation and immediate action,” Kanjama said.
He urged the Directorate of Criminal Investigations and the National Police Service to launch swift, thorough, and credible investigations, stressing that those responsible must be brought to justice without delay.
Kanjama also issued a public appeal for information, assuring potential witnesses that their safety would be protected.
“We appeal to any member of the public with information regarding this incident to share it urgently… Your anonymity and safety will be protected,” he said.
The LSK president further warned that if any state actors were implicated, they must face the full force of the law, insisting there should be no immunity for perpetrators regardless of their position.
“Justice for Tom Ouya Imbukwa is not negotiable,” Kanjama declared, adding that the society would provide legal support to the deceased’s family throughout the investigative and judicial process.
The killing has intensified fears within the legal community, coming less than a year after the fatal shooting of Nairobi-based lawyer Mathew Kyalo Mbobu in September 2025.
Mbobu was gunned down in what authorities described as a suspected targeted attack along Magadi Road. A post-mortem conducted by Chief Government Pathologist Johansen Oduor later revealed that he died from excessive bleeding after being shot eight times. Two bullets were recovered from his body, even as investigators noted missing spent cartridges from his vehicle.
The latest killing is likely to heighten scrutiny over the security of advocates in Kenya, with growing calls for accountability and protection measures for members of the bar.
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