President Ruto's administration criticised over cases of torture, human rights violations

The organization, which has been monitoring these violations for over a decade, revealed in a statement on Thursday that the government's performance in upholding democratic policing and safeguarding fundamental freedoms has been dismal.

According to IMLU, the past year has witnessed a disturbing trend of punitive policing during protests, extrajudicial executions, deaths in custody, and the deliberate torture of children. 

Furthermore, interference with investigative authorities and unconstitutional meddling in the National Police Service (NIS) have exacerbated the situation.

IMLU highlighted the government's commitment to ending police abuse, particularly against urban youth, through enhanced police oversight by bodies like the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) and the National Police Service Commission (NPSC). 

“Shockingly, the majority of victims and survivors are young adults aged 18 and 35 years, accounting for 65 per cent is particularly troubling because the promise by this government was to take care of the youth,” said IMLU Executive Director Peter Kiama.

However, their data, spanning from October 2022 to August 2023, paints a bleak picture.

During this period, IMLU documented a staggering 482 cases of torture and related violations, marking a 250-case increase compared to the previous year (2021-2022), which recorded 232 violations. 

IMLU also criticized the inadequate prioritization of IPOA's financial resources, which hampers its effectiveness in ensuring accountability and justice for victims. 

“We demand that the President prioritises the protection and enjoyment of fundamental rights. Freedom from torture and violations is not a privilege but an inherent right,” voiced IMLU Legal Advice Isabella Obara. 

The promised appointment of an ombudsman to monitor human rights violations has yet to materialize, and cases of abuse have escalated, especially during public order management.

Expressions and statements condoning law enforcement violations and "shoot-to-kill" orders further exacerbate the situation and undermine accountability. 

The refusal to record complaints from victims and the lack of investigations into police misconduct contribute to impunity.

The organization has urged the government to recognize and support investigative and oversight institutions, establish a special tribunal for gross human rights violations, and ensure the financial independence of the National Police Service.