KITUO CHA SHERIA BLOG

Kituo Cha Sheria condemns massive Human Rights Violations and Police Brutality on Civilians following the Just Ended 2017 Presidential Elections

Kituo Cha Sheria is deeply concerned by the lethal force and brutality meted out on unarmed protesters by the police as well as the armed forces following the just ended 2017 presidential election in Kenya.

The deployed police applied unwarranted force and brutality to quell unrest in various parts of the country following the declaration by the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC), that President Uhuru Kenyatta had won the recently concluded General Election.

Kituo Cha Sheria asserts that the use of violent and unjust measures by the security agents and police by way of: live bullets on protesters among others in; Mathare North Area 1, 2, 4 and 10, Nyamasaria, Kibos, Kondele, Nyalenda, Obunga and Kibera is unlawful and unacceptable.

Kituo is a custodian of Access to Justice for the poor and marginalized and condemns this high handedness in the strongest terms possible.

We have reports from our community based paralegals all over the country documenting up to 24 bodies with gunshot wounds including: a young man, who was shot dead at Dayo in Kisumu West. The deceased’s mother, Milka Amigo, and area MCA, Paul Okiri, have since confirmed the death.

Despite the confirmation above, Kisumu County Police Commander Titus Yoma alongside Nyanza Regional Coordinator Wilson Njenga denied these as factual.

Innocent children have not been spared either by this brutality, considering: the sad case of a ten year old who succumbed to reckless police shootings in Mathare. It is disheartening to learn that police even break into homes (as is documented by a paralegal from the Nyando Community Justice Center) and lob teargas in residential structures so as to draw Kenyans out and torture them indiscriminately including children as young as the 6 month old Samantha Pendo, who suffered critical injuries and later passed on as a result of police torture in Kisumu.

Simmering tension and fear of attacks from the dreaded militia still remains rife especially in Lucky Summer, Obama, Kayole, Kisumu and Mathare. We call upon the security agencies and political actors to rise to the occasion and contain this situation.

We remind you of the Constitution of Kenya, Article 244(a) which states that; The National Police Service shall strive for the highest standards of professionalism and discipline among its members and thus call upon the Independent Police Oversight Authority (IPOA) to move with speed and investigate and hold responsible, individual officers who are committing these heinous operations.

Kituo Cha Sheria appeals to political leaders to reign in on their supporters with a message of tolerance and peace. Kituo Cha Sheria also reminds citizens that they have the right to express themselves through picketing and demonstrations as prescribed under Article 37 of the Constitution of Kenya, but they must be peaceful and unarmed.

We remind all Kenyans of the national values of social justice, rule of law, democracy, human rights and non-discrimination to help us forge a united and a prosperous Kenya.

Gertrude Angote-Executive Director

Kituo Cha Sheria