The brutal assassination of Kenyan lawyer Advocate Matthew Kyalo Mbobu has reignited regional concerns over the safety of legal practitioners and the erosion of civic freedoms in East Africa.
Advocate Mbobu, a respected legal scholar and former Chairperson of Kenya’s Political Parties Dispute Tribunal, was shot dead on Tuesday, 9th September, 2025, in a drive by attack along Magadi Road in Nairobi.
His targeted killing has shocked the East African legal community and triggered widespread calls for accountability.
The Uganda Law Society (ULS) has joined its Kenyan counterpart in condemning the killing, describing it as part of a worrying trend of extrajudicial actions across the region.
ULS President Isaac K. Ssemakadde, in a statement issued on Thursday, 11th September, 2025 described the murder as “a grievous wound to the soul of justice in East Africa.”
He noted that the incident bears the hallmarks of a premeditated assassination and reflects a broader pattern of abductions, enforced disappearances, and politically motivated violence in the region.
“As the East African region approaches critical election seasons, violence must not be normalized as a tool of silencing an argument,” Ssemakadde said.
He urged governments in Kenya, Uganda, and beyond generally east Africa to dismantle systems of impunity and uphold constitutional guarantees of the right to life and civic freedoms.
Mbobu’s three year legal career earned him respect for his stewardship at the Political Parties Dispute Tribunal and his scholarly contributions to constitutionalism and governance.
His death has sparked renewed debate on the protection of legal professionals, especially in countries where the civic space is under pressure.
In response to the killing, the Law Society of Kenya has planned a nationwide Purple Ribbon March on Friday, September 12, to honour Mbobu’s legacy and protest attacks on lawyers.
In solidarity, the Uganda Law Society (ULS) will observe its 16th Annual Rule of Law Week from 15th to 19th September, encouraging Ugandan advocates to wear purple ribbons during the events and activities.
