Wiper party leader and former Vice President Kalonzo Musyoka has called on Kenyan lawyers to take a frontline role in safeguarding the country’s democracy, warning that corruption, impunity and political violence are steadily eroding public trust in state institutions.
Speaking on Friday evening during the Law Society of Kenya’s Lower Eastern Advocates Forum held at Sisu Hotel in Machakos County, Kalonzo praised legal practitioners as the vigilant guardians of our constitutional order, commending both senior advocates and the Junior Bar for their energy, professionalism, and fearlessness in defending the rule of law.
“You have remained the vigilant guardians of our constitutional order,” he said. “At a time when corruption, impunity, and democratic backsliding threaten the very soul of our nation, you have stood firm.”
Kalonzo made particular reference to Kenya’s youth, especially Gen Z, whose activism he described as bold and transformative.
He said their engagement in peaceful protest had shaken the foundations of injustice and reignited hope in democratic participation.
The Wiper leader also highlighted what he termed a landmark ruling delivered this week by High Court judges Lawrence Ngaah, Chigiti and Mugambi on political defections.
The case, filed by activist Ali Guracha and argued by lawyer Kibe Mungai, sought to challenge Isiolo Governor Abdi Guyo and Deputy Governor James Lowasa for defecting from Jubilee to UDA after their election.
Calling the ruling a defining moment for our democracy, Kalonzo said the court had reaffirmed that the electorate’s mandate was sacred and cannot be traded like a commodity.
“Using political parties as mere ladders to power, only to abandon them moments after being sworn in, is selfish, unconstitutional, and a betrayal of the electorate,” he said.
“This ruling is more than a legal victory; it is a moral one.”
However, he warned that despite legal milestones, the integrity of Kenya’s democracy faces grave threats. He cited the November 27 by-elections, which he said revealed a chilling pattern of targeted violence designed to intimidate, silence, and ultimately subvert the will of the people.
Kalonzo criticised the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission for what he termed a failure to protect the vote.
He condemned the violence that led to the deaths of at least 15 people in Kasipul, saying those responsible should already be facing legal action.
“The Director of Public Prosecutions ought to have directed the Inspector General of Police to commence investigations without delay,” he said.
“If justice is delayed, the citizens retain the constitutional right to pursue private prosecutions.”
He challenged advocates to deepen their commitment to pro bono work, emphasising that while many Kenyans have rights, they lack access to justice. Providing that access, he said, was both a patriotic and humanitarian duty.
“Your unwavering defence of justice, fairness, and constitutionalism is one of the last bastions standing between Kenya and the erosion of our democratic values,” he told the gathering.
Kalonzo urged lawyers to remain principled, consistent and mindful of the lasting impact of their words and actions, both in court and online.
“Let your work continue to inspire confidence, protect the vulnerable, and strengthen the moral architecture of our Republic,” he said, reaffirming his faith in the legal profession’s role in steering the country’s ethical future.
