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25/06/2026
Dear Diary,
Today my heart is heavy. Writing feels hard.
Somewhere there’s a family that is waiting for a phone call that will never come. Somewhere else, a chair at the dinner table will forever remain unoccupied.
Before today’s notes, I’d like to pause and remember all lives lost in demonstrations. May they rest in peace, and may justice never become an afterthought.
Today’s page will be different. Instead of several updates, I’d like us to look at one case that feels especially relevant.
Law Society of Kenya v Kithinji & 5 others; Katiba Institute & another (Interested Parties) [2025] KEHC 7957 (KLR) - this is the case where the Court restrained Police Officers and other persons acting under the direction, control or in support of the National Police Service from taking any action to obscure the identification, registration, or markings of any motor vehicle being used when in any way dealing with any persons who is or is planning on assembling, demonstrating, picketing or petitioning. It also issued a declaration that any law officer deployed to ensure law and order in the course of an assembly, demonstration and picketing must be uniformed and shall not in any way hide or obscure their face so as to render them unidentifiable.
To me, the judgment is a reminder that constitutional rights don't exist only on paper. The rules governing policing during demonstrations are meant to protect both public order and public accountability. Whether those rules are followed in practice is a different question. But knowing they exist is the first step.
May we never grow so accustomed to tragedy that we stop asking questions, demanding accountability or remembering those we’ve lost.
Legally Yours,
Rose.