Kenya Alert: Rights Groups Decry Protest Deaths – Kenya Not a Police State!
Human rights organizations report at least 37 deaths and 60 injuries since anti-government demonstrations began in March of this year.
As they spoke, the police watchdog warned that officers implicated in such shootings would be held personally responsible.
The Independent Medico-Legal Unit (Imlu), the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (Ipoa), the International Commission of Jurists (10), Amnesty International, and Haki Afrika have all criticized the police for acting illegally and inflicting severe injuries on Kenyans during the demonstrations.
Simultaneously, Ipoa issued a warning regarding alleged instances of officers from criminal organizations, militias, and unknown or undeclared special units infiltrating protests.
The human rights organizations also raised several concerns regarding the police officers, including the payment of allowances, long working hours, internal promotions, mental health, and disjointed command, all of which could contribute to the use of excessive force against protesters.
ALSO READ: Kindiki Calls for Stricter Sentences on Protestors
“The Inspector General of Police (IG) must be genuinely independent, including the oversight independence. Ipoa Commissioner John Waiganjo warned, “Anyone who believes he is acting on behalf of the Executive will be on his own when the chickens come home to roost.”
Police forces were armed.
Peter Kiama, the executive director of Imlu, asserted that the police are being weaponized to safeguard political interests, which is perilous for the nation.
“Police commanders are obtaining orders from sources outside the police command. Once again, we are observing the politicization of the police force. Individuals are currently being deployed in civilian attire. It’s acceptable, particularly for undercover officers, but they must identify themselves as officers, emphasized Kiama.
The organizations also criticized Interior Cabinet Secretary (CS) Kithure Kindiki and Inspector General of Police Japheth Koome for neglecting to report the deaths, injuries, and alleged arrests during the protests to the Ipoa for investigation.
Prof. Kindiki and Mr. Koome have been urged to demonstrate accountability by documenting those detained and detailing the charges against them.
Director of Haki Afrika Hussein Khalid and ICJ Programme Officer Thuku Mburu stated that the State has a responsibility to secure the rights of its citizens.
There is no police state in Kenya. You cannot act selectively by contravening Constitutional requirements. We are taking a unilateral approach to the disturbances, said Mr. Khalid.
ALSO READ: CS Mutua Slams UN: Protest Deaths Miscounted
Mr. Kiama of Imlu objected to the police not providing information about the deceased, injured, and arrested.
Azimio-called demonstration
We have witnessed elevated levels of crime. Since the beginning of the year, Imlu has monitored 12 demonstrations, including one called by Azimio. Of these, we have documented 68 injuries and 37 fatalities resulting from police action,” he said.
He explained, “Of the 25 men and two women under the age of 40 who were shot with live ammunition, 25 are using live ammunition. Most are in their twenties. A 32-year-old male was shot in the back during a protest in Nakuru county, while a 20-year-old woman was shot in the upper back during a protest in Nairobi.
A second incident occurred in Migori County, where a man was purportedly asphyxiated after being exposed to tear gas.
Irungu Houghton, the executive director of Amnesty International, stated that the organization had documented at least 30 cases of police killings of demonstrators since March.
Mr. Houghton stated that this number included 12 deaths during the 20 and 27 March protests, 12 deaths during the 7 July protests, and six deaths during the demonstrations on Wednesday.
The fatalities have been attributed to tear gas suffocation and lethal gunfire. Mr. Houghton stated that preliminary investigations have revealed that the police have resorted to beatings, arbitrary arrests and detention of protestors, indiscriminate and disproportionate use of tear gas and water cannons, and other grave violations of human rights to quell the protests.
Kenya Alert: Rights Groups Decry Protest Deaths – Kenya Not a Police State!
