The Kenya Human Rights Commission (KHRC) has claimed the police have shot dead 28 people since Kenyans took to the streets to protest the High cost of living and the Finance Act 2023.
In a statement on Friday, July 21, 2023, KHRC said that 27 of the deaths happened between July 7 and July 19 as reported by Civil Society Organizations (CSOs).
"From July 7 to 19, Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) have reported 27 extrajudicial, summary, and arbitrary executions (EJE) – Fatal police shootings," the statement read in part.
KHRC has blamed President William Ruto for using the police to silence dissenting voices, reneging on his promise to end the era of police killer squads.
"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," KHRC stated.
KHRC has also condemned the police for using illegal ways to arrest protestors and taking some to unknown destinations, while others disappear without trace.
"The use of non-uniformed officers who in most cases are seen to use vehicles with either distorted or no number plates, bundle protestors into car trunks and speed off to unknown locations is also on the rise. These actions contravene the Criminal Procedures Code and Police Standing Orders," the statement added.
"We are witnessing a disturbing pattern of police operation that exposes the country to civil strife and informal repression. Police are now working together with what appears to be private militia to attack and butcher people in Dandora and Kibera in Nairobi, Mlolongo in Machakos and some areas in Kisumu and Migori. These strikes are taking place in the cover of darkness with hope of shielding perpetrators from accountability."
KHRC has also flagged the attack on human rights defenders by the police, claiming that at least 43 human rights defenders have been arbitrarily arrested, abducted, unlawfully detained and slapped with criminal and trumped-up charges.
.The commission says that 34 human rights defenders were arrested on July 7 in Nairobi and Turkana Counties respectively, one was assaulted, arrested, and detained without access to medical attention on July 12, two in Kajiado County on the same day. Two were attacked at their office on July 19, 2023, while Boniface Ogutu was abducted on July 20 and his whereabouts remain unknown.
KHRC has also accused the government of risking the lives of journalists who have been at the forefront covering the protests.
"With this regime, journalists have also been caught on crossfire. It seems there is a motive to silence them through subtle tactics. First, it started when the Director of Criminal Investigation (DCI) published images of protesters, taken by journalists, and said the demonstrators were wanted. This exposed journalists to risk of being attacked by protesters. Again, on Wednesday, a police officer masquerading as a journalist arrested a protester in Mathare. We all know what is likely to happen when reporters show up with their cameras in closed areas like Mathare: they are now marked men and women," KHRC added.
"Despite these facts and evidence of police brutality, 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 has called on the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) and the Internal Affairs Unit (IAU) to investigate cases of arbitrary arrests, mistreatment and all atrocities committed by the police.
The commission has also called on the President and the Legislature must repeal or amend the Finance Act to address the concerns raised by the public.
KHRC also wants a national dialogue process initiated that involves all stakeholders including the CSOs, and religious leaders among others.
