Anti-Finance Bill protests: 20 human rights groups call on IPOA to arrest rogue cops

Human rights groups on Saturday called for the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) to investigate cases of police brutality during the anti-Finance Bill protests.

In a joint public statement to IPOA Chairperson Anne Makori, the organizations noted with concern how law enforcement officers used excessive force thereby inflicting injuries and killing peaceful protesters who were unarmed.

They said they have so far documented 23 deaths, 34 disappearances and 271 injuries during the protests, calling for the officers responsible to be held accountable and prosecuted.

“Article 21 of the ICCPR and Article 37 of the Kenyan Constitution safeguards the basic right to peaceful assembly. It is unfortunate that law officers used excessive force, inflicting injuries and even killing peaceful protesters rather than defending this right,” the statement read in part.  

“The UN Basic Principles on the Use of Force and Firearms by Law Enforcement Officials state that lethal force should only be used in extreme cases and when necessary to defend life. Such acts constitute a clear breach of this principle.”

The 20 human rights groups included Amnesty International Kenya, Defenders Coalition, Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA-Kenya), Independent Medical Legal Unit (IMLU), International Centre for Transitional Justice (ICTJ), International Justice Mission (IJM), Kariobangi Paralegal Network and Katiba Institute.

Others were; Kenya Human Rights Commission (KHRC), Kenyans for Peace, Truth and Justice (KPTJ), Shield for Justice Foundation, Social Justice Centres Working Group (SJCW), Social Welfare Development Program (SOWED), Transparency International Kenya, Usalama Reforms Forum, Wangu Kanja Foundation and Women Empowerment Link.

They also expressed concern over the deployment of the Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) across all 47 counties, noting that the situation could worsen in the coming days.

The groups reiterated that rogue security officers contravened the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, to which Kenya is a signatory.

“The UN Basic Principles on the Use of Force and Firearms by Law Enforcement Officials state that lethal force should only be used in extreme cases and when necessary to defend life. Such acts constitute a clear breach of this principle,” the statement added.

“We thus implore the Independent Police Oversight Authority (IPOA) to investigate these instances expeditiously and in great detail.”

The human rights groups called for IPOA to update the public on the progress of the investigations within seven days.