By Teddy Makori
Saturday,29 June 2024
Nairobi
Twenty human rights organizations in Kenya are urging the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA), to investigate cases of police brutality during recent protests against the Finance Bill 2024.
These protests, which took pace on June 25, 2024, saw police using excessive force against unarmed citizens. Including lobbying teargas cannister to journalists while firing live bullets to protesters.
The groups have documented 23 deaths, 34 disappearances with about 271 injuries reported,they are demanding that the responsible officers be held accountable.
The human rights organizations, including Amnesty International Kenya, Defenders Coalition, and the Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA-Kenya), among others, issued a joint statement to IPOA Chairperson Anne Makori.
They emphasized that the police actions violated the right to peaceful assemble protected under Article 21 of the International covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) and Article 37 of the Kenyan Constitution.
The statement highlighted that instead of protecting this right, law enforcement officers inflicted harm and caused deaths.
The United Nations Basic Principles on the Use of Force and Firearms by Law Enforcement Officials states that lethal force should only be used in extreme cases and when necessary to protect life.
The human rights groups stressed that the police’s actions during the protests were a clear violation of these principles.
They called for a thorough investigation and prosecution of the involved officers.
Furthermore, the groups expressed concern about the deployment of the Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) across all 47 counties warning that this could escalate the situation further.
The organizations urged IPOA to update the public on the progress of the investigations within seven days, stressing the need for transparency and accountability.
The call for action comes amid growing public outrage over incidents of police violence.
One such incident involved a plainclothed officer shooting at a peaceful crowd at close range in Nairobi’s Central Business District, which was caught on video and widely circulated.
This has intensified demands for justice and accountability.Further, They are calling for immediate and thorough investigations to ensure that the officers who violated citizens’ rights are held accountable.
The groups also highlighted the importance of adhering to international standards on the use of force by law enforcement to prevent such incidents in the future.
In conclusion, the human rights organizations are advocating for the protection of the right to peaceful assembly and for the accountability of law enforcement officers who misuse their power.