The Kenya Human Rights Commission (KHRC) has condemned the use of extra violence by police officers while dealing with anti-government protestors.
KHRC in a statement on Friday July 21 stated that civil society organizations have reported 27 deaths because of police shootings during the demonstrations between July 7 and July 19.
“From July 7 to 19, Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) have reported 27 extrajudicial, summary, and arbitrary executions (EJE) – Fatal police shootings.
“While President Ruto had promised to end the era of police killer squads, the recent unfoldings reveal that the security agencies have clear intentions to execute protestors. In fact, it has been reported that some of these officers masquerade as journalists in order to arrest and execute protestors,” read the statement in part.
KHRC stated that the use of non-uniformed officers in the protests contravenes the Criminal Procedures Code and Police Standing Orders.
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The commission further chided President William Ruto and Interior CS Kithure Kindiki for commending police officers for their conduct during the protests.
“The President on Thursday thanked police for “standing firm and ensuring that there is peace” while the interior minister, Prof. Kithure Kindiki, said police acted with “utmost professionalism” and public “hooliganism” had been contained. We condemn these statements,” KHRC added.
KHRC called on the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) and the Internal Affairs Unit (IAU) to investigate police officers who committed offences during the anti-government protests.
The commission also asked the DCI to take action against Nakuru West MP Samuel Arama for misusing his firearm on Wednesday.
The statement comes moments after the police roughed up journalists who were covering Embakasi East MP Babu Owino’s bail ruling at Milimani law courts in Nairobi.
Video seen by Nairobi Leo showed the journalists pushing the journalists out of court even as some were pushed to the ground in the commotion that ensued.
Attempts by journalists to defend themselves on grounds that they were covering the proceedings fell flat on the police officers who ordered them to vacate the courts.
