Lawyers in the country will from Monday, February 12 to Friday, February 16 stay away from the courts in protest of government’s disobedience to court orders and violating the constitution.
Only lawyers involved in election petitions will be in the courtroom since the petitions are nearing completion.
The lawyers will stage the Yellow Ribbon Campaign which is symbolic with the commitment, determination and vibrancy entrenched in lawyers to fight for and preserve justice.
LSK President Isaac Okero said their stay-away from court campaign is to fight brazen anarchy exhibited by government and which is seen to encourage disrespect of the law.
“It should always be the government that demonstrates to the citizens, by its example and conduct, the importance of strictly adhering to and respecting the law. When a government shows contempt for the law it becomes impossible for it to require citizens to respect the law,” said Okero according to the Star.
He added: There is a palpable feeling of outrage and dismay at this display of contempt for the laws and the constitution.”
Okero said the Yellow Ribbon campaign will institute a multi-pronged approach across all LSK branches in the country.
“By excluding election petitions from the court boycott, the Society demonstrates the bar’s commitment to the delivery of electoral justice,” added the LSK President.
Every lawyer will be required to wear a yellow ribbon during the boycott period which will end on Friday when the lawyers will stage a protest condemning disobedience of court orders.
Further, in every court, lawyers are expected to hold discussion sessions on obedience and enforcement of Court Orders and the importance of universal adherence to the rule of law.
LSK will then sue government for media shutdown and seek compensation for the affected stations for the time they remained off air.
“The Society shall seek, in addition to appropriate orders and declarations, personal liability against the state and public officers who are and have acted with impunity.”
LSK will then prepare a Yellow Ribbon Memorandum which involves compiling instances where government or public officers have disobeyed Court Orders and violated human rights.
The memorandum will then be served to the office of the President, Chief Justice David Maraga and National Assembly Speaker Justin Muturi and his Senate counterpart Ken Lusaka.