The Law Society of Kenya (LSK) has strongly condemned the sinking of a ship laden with heroin valued at Sh1 billion in the Indian Ocean.
LSK chairman Eric Mutua said the exercise, which was supervised by President Uhuru Kenyatta, was a breach of the constitution.
“We should not cheer as the government perpetuates impunity and violates the constitution. LSK wants investigations done on procedures followed in the destruction of the narcotics,” said Mutua.
Mutua, who was addressing lawyers in Nakuru on Friday during the official opening of the Law Society of Kenya Rift Valley chapter branch offices in the town, said the government contravened international shipping and property laws among others outlined in the constitution.
“Why is it that the president was in a rush to destroy them. It may look like a simple matter but in some jurisdictions and in other countries, it is a serious matter amounting to resignation of the president,” he said.
Mutua said LSK was following the particulars of how the ship was sunk despite the existence of a court order halting the move.
He said that crucial evidence was lost by sinking the ship. Mutua criticised the Head of State and the Kenya Defence Force’s Chief of General Staff for ordering the unilateral destruction of a ship on which 370kg heroin was found despite its orders.
The LSK will engage its lawyers to gather more information and documentation before issuing a statement on the matter.
“There was no scientist to issue a certificate that those drugs destroyed were indeed drugs and there is no certainty,” Mutua noted.