JAMILA’S MEMO: Innocent Kenyans actually died – Why IPOA should not overlook the facts

One month after anti-government protests began, 60 Kenyans have lost their lives according to statistics from the Kenya National Human Rights Commission.

Over 1000 others are nursing injuries at home and in hospital, their lives forever changed, while there are others still missing.

For the past few weeks, families have been burying their loved ones, most of them young men and women at the peak of their lives. These families are left with many questions; waiting for answers that do not seem to be coming.

The family of David Chege the first protester to be shot dead on the 25th of June at parliament buildings has been waiting too.

“Sasa nini anaonyesha watu, anasema hivi anachange, hata hivyo amesema atatucompensate he wont do that hawezi,” said Jane Nduta Chege, mother of the late David Chege.

Magdalene Wanjiku Chege, grandmother of the late David Chege added, “Alikua ananipeleka hospitali ,tangu akufe pia mimi sasa naona ntakufa….hata yeye ako na watoto , hata yeye anaweza kuwa na uchungu kama sisi.”

As the agony continues over why this happened, the main question lingering on the minds of many is who is responsible. Who should be held accountable? The police have been accused of using unnecessary and deadly force against protestors. Most of the young people protesting had bare hands, they were not armed, they only had their mobile phones, water bottles and in many instances, the Kenyan flag.

The threshold of using deadly force was not met. How is a flag, a water bottle or a mobile phone harmful? Remember, some of those killed, lost their lives even before the protests were infiltrated by goons.

Investigations into police involvement in the killings have literally hit a brick wall. The body mandated with policing the police IPOA sounds frustrated and is lamenting about how there is no cooperation from the police on these cases.

Still, IPOA submitted complaints to the Director of Public Prosecutions about some of the deaths and injuries that occurred during the protests. However, the responses by the ODPP left a lot to be desired.

In one instance, ODPP said the main suspect denied firing a tear gas canister that badly injured a protestor. In the death of Kea Kanyeki, the ODPP says a key witness has not provided statements and that CCTV footage does not identify the shooter.

In the case in which Janet Obonyo was shot while riding a bicycle on June 25th, the ODPP is awaiting the investigation file before issuing further directions. And it goes on and on and on.

The reasons leaving families clinging to very little hope.

As the pursuit for justice continues, more than 10 families of the victims were at the IPOA headquarters on Wednesday. recording statements and hoping for some progress in their quest for justice.

“Imenikera imenikera sana mimi tu kile nataka kujua ni polisi mwenye aliuwa mtoto wangu,” said Pheobe Akumu Maina.

Edith Wanjiku Kamau added, “IPOA inanipa hopes kwamba nitapata haki.”

As the families put their hopes and prayers in the hands of  IPOA, let us not forget those who are still unaccounted for, those who are nursing injuries, and those who lost their lives.

Remember their names, Rex Masai, David Chege, Ibrahim Karanja, Evans Kiratu, Kennedy Onyango, Janet Obonyo and the 54 others who are no longer with us, remember their names. That is my memo