The laws that protect Kenyans’ rights to expression, assembly, and freedom from intrusive surveillance are not abstract legal concepts. They empower all democratic and rights-based societies. They equip us to speak truth to power, to gather in solidarity, and to live without the fear of being watched simply for having a voice or an opinion. Yet, across the world, even here in Kenya, these freedoms are increasingly under pressure.
As you step into this moot court, I urge you to remember that the law is not just about statutes and precedents. It is about people.
It is about Rose Njeri, the coder who developed an app to make it easy for us to comment on the 2025 Finance Bill.
It is about David Chege and Eric Mutisya, two students who were killed while peacefully protesting against injustice.
The SHA accountant, Andrew Rotich, who exposed SHIF corruption.
The activist Hanifa Adan, who mobilizes communities for change. And yes, whistleblower Spencer Sankale, who risked everything to reveal the truth.
The debate today is more than an academic exercise. It is a rehearsal for the kind of principled, informed, and courageous leadership our continent needs. So interrogate the laws critically. Ask whether they serve the public interest or the interests of power. Challenge the normalization of surveillance in the name of security. And above all, defend the constitutional promise of freedom.
Lastly, consider that the strength of our constitutional order is not measured by how the powerful are treated, but by how the rights of the least powerful are protected to speak, to gather, and to dissent.
I wish you spirited and thoughtful debates. Whatever side you take, may your arguments be clear, your convictions deep, and your commitment to justice unwavering.
Thank you