Amnesty International Kenya condemns police over excessive use of force.
Written by Odhiambo Shem on July 20, 2023
Amnesty International Kenya has raised concern over the rising cases of police brutality against anti-government protesters which it says have resulted in more than 30 deaths since March this year as a result of suffocation from tear gas and lethal shootings.
Amnesty Executive Director Irungu Houghton in his statement called on Independent Human Rights bodies including the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) and The Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) to probe the deaths and prosecute officers and their commanders who are found culpable.
“Amnesty International Kenya condemns the continued use of force against protestors, the continued attacks, use of excessive, unnecessary and unlawful force against protesters, including lethal force leading to increased deaths and injuries of both adults and children,” said Irungu.
“We demand urgent investigations and prosecution of police officers and their commanders for excessive use of force by the Independent Policing Oversight Authority and the Director of Public Prosecutions,” Irungu added.
In addition to that, they also call on the National Cohesion and Integration Commission (NCIC), the Police, and the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) to investigate and prosecute those citizens and elected leaders using social media to urge Kenyans to commit acts of violence, hatred, and discrimination.
He also urged the relevant bodies to prosecute elected leaders and citizens inciting others into violence and those calling for the use of extra force by the police.
He later call upon Inspector General of the Police Japhet Koome and the Cabinet Secretary of Interior Kithure Kindiki to take practical steps to guarantee the right of everyone to peaceful protest. In addition, he added that the arrests of the opposition leaders and their supporters must be carried out legally and not as a tool to punish or intimidate people, and all those arrested have the right to know the charges being referred, legal representation, medical assistance, and bail or bond within 24 hours.
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