Police crackdown on demos condemned
By Anthony Nganga, July 12, 2023
Civil Society Groups, under the Police Reforms Working Group, has condemned use of excessive force on demonstrators during Saba Saba rallies.
They called on Inspector General of Police to take full political and command responsibility over the service.
“We wish to condemn the systemic use of excessive unlawful and unnecessary use of force and firearms by the police in the management of public assemblies and demonstrations. The actions we have seen in the recent past amount to total disregard of the National Police Service standing orders and the police code of conduct,” said Deputy CEO Inuka Wambua Kawive.
The police “expressed the highest level of brutality, cruelty and torture” in their handling the demonstrators as evidenced by the loss of seven lives, and the arresting of over 70 Kenyans the group observed, further saying the arrested people “were denied medical treatment, dignity kits, food, legal assistance and bail.”
The group said the police must desist from harassing journalists, adding that the trend was a threat to the freedom of expression and media.
They asked the Independent Policing Authority, and the Internal Affairs Unit to investigate cases of arbitrary arrests, mistreatment and all atrocities committed by the police.