Former State House Chief of Staff and lawyer Nzioka Waita addressing the media at Katangi in Yatta Subcounty. Photo Virginia Siebella 
By Virginia Siebella
Former State House Chief of Staff and lawyer Nzioka Waita has strongly condemned the brutal killing of senior advocate Kyalo Mbobu, describing it as a heinous act that must be denounced in the strongest terms.
Speaking after a Sunday service at Katangi in Yatta Subcounty, Machakos, Waita said the killing points to a worrying trend of extrajudicial actions in the country and warned that such violence is not a sustainable way of resolving disputes.
“As a lawyer, I am particularly perturbed by the death of our senior Mbobu. We must be in a situation where law and order carries the day. Any form of violence meted on anyone should be condemned in the strongest terms possible,” he said.
Waita stressed that Kenya’s legal and constitutional systems exist to provide peaceful avenues for conflict resolution. He urged citizens to trust the judiciary instead of resorting to unlawful means, warning that violence only breeds further violence.
“The reason we have a judicial system, a legal regime, and a constitutional order is so that people can ventilate their issues within that framework. Judicial officers at every level need to take this as a sign of frustration from citizens that the system is not working as it should,” he noted. “If there is no concerted effort to make access to justice real and available to everyone, irrespective of their social standing, I suspect it will only get worse.”
On matters of civic engagement, the lawyer encouraged the youth to embrace democratic processes as a means of pushing for good governance. He particularly urged them to register as voters during the upcoming voter registration exercise scheduled to begin on September 29 following the reconstitution of the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC).
“I empathize with the frustration of young people and their desire for good governance, particularly at the county level. The ballot box is the most convenient way to express your satisfaction or dissatisfaction with leaders. I want to encourage young people to use that avenue to put in the kind of leaders they aspire to have,” he said.
Waita emphasized that civic participation remains the surest way to bring about change, adding that the upcoming voter registration exercise offers a critical opportunity for every eligible Kenyan to make their voice count.
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