NAIROBI: At least 50 people in the city were killed by the police in who moved quell protests after the August 8 elections, human rights groups have revealed.
A joint report by Police Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch confirmed that police killed at least 33 people, possibly as many as 50, and injured hundreds more in some parts of Nairobi.
"Another 17 were alleged killed, most of them in Kawangware, but researchers could not confirm the cases," posits the report.
This report says taken together with others killings reported to the groups but which could not be confirmed, the nationwide death toll could be as high as 67.
The 37-pagedocument dubbed, “‘Kill Those Criminals’: Security Forces’ Violations in Kenya’s August 2017 Elections,” describes excessive use of force by police, and in some cases other security agents, against protesters and residents in some of Nairobi’s opposition strongholds after the elections.
According to the report, although police behaved appropriately in some instances, in many others they shot or beat protesters to death.
They shot directly at some protesters and also opened fire, apparently randomly, on crowds. Victims and witnesses told researchers that as protesters ran away, police pursued them, kicking down doors and chasing people down alleyways, shooting and beating many to death.
“Most of them from the General Service Unit (GSU) and Administration Police (AP), carried out law enforcement operations in Mathare, Kibera, Babadogo, Dandora, Korogocho, Kariobangi, and Kawangware neighborhoods in Nairobi between August 9 and 13,” reads a section of the report.
“Other victims died of asphyxiation from inhaling teargas and pepper spray, from being hit by teargas canisters fired at close range, or from being trampled to death by fleeing crowds,” the report posits.
The document which was released on Monday morning said police were directly implicated in the deaths of at least 33 people.
Police Spokesman Charles Owino has since dismissed the report.
Police however disputed the report saying the findings were totally misleading and based on falsehoods.
In a statement by the Assistant Inspector General of Police, George Kinoti they were still studying the report and would issue a comprehensive feedback later.
“The National Police Service attention has been drawn to a sensational report by Amnesty International alleging that, 33 people were killed in the immediate post August poll period. We wish to refute the claims as totally misleading and based on falsehoods,” he said.
The two organizations said they had written to the Inspector General of Police detailing their findings and requesting a meeting but received no response. They also made several requests to interview the police spokesperson, all of which were turned down.
“The Kenyan authorities should publicly acknowledge the violations, conduct speedy, impartial, thorough, and transparent investigations, and take the necessary steps under the law to hold those responsible to account as a key step toward justice for the victims,” said Otsieno Namwaya, Africa researcher at Human Rights Watch.
“The police attacked opposition supporters and then tried to cover up their attacks. The authorities should ensure that this kind of arbitrary and abusive use of force by police does not recur in the repeat election.”
Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch researchers interviewed 151 victims, witnesses, human rights activists, aid workers, and police in Nairobi’s low-income areas known to be strongholds of opposition supporters.
“Witnesses told us that another 17 people were alleged killed, most of them in Kawangware, but researchers could not confirm the cases,” said Namwaya.
He added, “The Kenyan authorities should urgently ensure that all those responsible for unlawful use of force are held to account, and that police comply with international law and standards on the use of force during the upcoming repeat election period”.
Ahead of the vote, police had designated many of these areas as “hot spots” for potential violence and had deployed forces heavily, increasing tensions.
“Dozens of people were killed and many more left with life-altering injuries in attacks by the police against opposition supporters,” said Michelle Kagari, deputy regional director for East Africa, the Horn, and the Great Lakes at Amnesty International.
Kagari said the deadly use of excessive force has become a hallmark of police operations in Kenya and must be decisively stopped before the next election takes place.
Prior Human Rights Watch research documented 12 killings by police during protests in western Kenya.
