The Law Society of Kenya (LSK) has called for an immediate joint investigation into the deaths of Advocate Esther Wairimu Keige and Advocate Edward Muthee Kariuki, describing the two killings within days of each other as a disturbing attack on the legal profession.
In a statement issued on July 8, LSK President Charles Kanjama urged the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) and the National Police Service Internal Affairs Unit (IAU) to jointly investigate the circumstances surrounding the deaths and ensure those responsible are brought to justice.
“The Law Society of Kenya has received confirmation of the death of our colleague, Advocate Esther Wairimu Keige, after weeks of anxious searching and fervent hope that she would be found alive,” Kanjama said.
He noted that Keige’s death came barely 48 hours after the killing of Advocate Edward Muthee Kariuki, warning that the two incidents should not be viewed as isolated cases.
According to the LSK, the back-to-back deaths point to a worrying trend that could intimidate advocates and weaken the administration of justice.
“The killings are not a statistical coincidence but a calculated attack on the legal profession and the rule of law,” the society said.
The lawyers’ body further demanded a forensic audit of all active land acquisition, leasing and land alienation files handled by the Kenya Forest Service (KFS) legal department over the past 12 months to determine whether Keige’s official duties may have contributed to her death.
LSK also called on the government to enhance security for advocates serving in public regulatory agencies, arguing that many face threats while protecting public resources and combating corruption.
The society urged authorities to move swiftly with investigations to restore public confidence in the justice system and ensure that legal professionals can carry out their duties without fear.
LSK extended its condolences to Keige’s family, friends, colleagues at the Kenya Forest Service and the wider legal fraternity.
Keige, a 54-year-old Kenya Forest Service Legal Officer, was found dead on July 7 in a coffee plantation in the Area 4 locality near Karimenu in Juja, Kiambu County, nearly a month after she disappeared.
She had been reported missing on June 10, 2026, after leaving her office along Kiambu Road, prompting an extensive search by family members, colleagues and investigators.
According to Juja Sub-County Police Commander Isaac Kombo, the body was discovered in an advanced state of decomposition but remained intact.
Her remains were transferred to the Kenyatta University Teaching, Referral and Research Hospital Mortuary, where a post-mortem examination is expected to establish the cause of death and assist investigators.
The LSK statement also highlighted the killing of Advocate Edward Muthee Kariuki, whose body was discovered outside a residential estate in Athi River, Machakos County.
Police said the incident was reported on Sunday, July 5, after a security guard found the advocate lying motionless outside the estate.
Investigators said Kariuki had sustained a cut above his right eye and a deep wound at the back of his head, believed to have been inflicted using a sharp object.
Police have since launched separate investigations into both deaths, although no arrests have been announced.
The deaths have sparked growing concern within the legal fraternity, with lawyers calling for thorough investigations, enhanced protection for advocates and decisive action against those responsible for attacks targeting members of the profession.
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