By Treezer Michelle Atieno
It is disappointing that no arrests have been made for the deaths of more than 32
Kenyans during the Gen Z protests. Police brutality has been a persistent issue in
Kenya, and the government has done nothing to address it
At the 44th Ordinary Session of the African Union, Musalia Mudavadi, the Prime
Cabinet Secretary and Minister of Foreign and Diaspora Affairs, responded to
concerns about police brutality in Kenya raised by the African Commission on
Human and Peoples' Rights. He claimed that police brutality does not occur in
Kenya.
This statement is far from the truth. Many Kenyans, especially ordinary citizens,
have experienced some form of police brutality or excessive use of force, resulting
in death or serious injuries.
By denying the existence of police brutality in the country, Mudavadi portrayed
Kenya as a utopian nation where the police are disciplined and respect human
rights and the rule of law in line with regional and international standards.
The reality is that police brutality and impunity do occur in Kenya, and we cannot
ignore this fact.
In 2019, then-Interior Minister Fred Matiangi acknowledged the existence of police
brutality caused by police officers and vowed to end such impunity. He emphasized
that no officer is above the law, and actions would be taken against those
responsible.
He also promised to uphold the rule of law and respect for the lives of Kenyans.
Mudavadi, during his time at the African Union, should have admitted that police
brutality is a challenge and that they were working with various stakeholders to
implement reforms within the police force.
In 2023, during the Mandamano organized by the opposition leaders, we
witnessed the use of excessive force and brutality by the police, resulting in the
deaths of some protestors and even innocent bystanders. This occurred despite
constitutional safeguards protecting the right to peaceful assembly, which the
police ignored.
These incidents led to severe human rights abuses in the country. Unfortunately, to
this day, no police officers have been held accountable for their actions during that
period.
In our courts, several police officers have been arrested, charged, and convicted for
killing and brutalizing Kenyans. Human rights lawyer Willie Kimani, his client, and
their driver were killed by police officers. The Kianjokoma brothers were also
victims of police brutality, and the case of baby Pendo remains unforgettable.
Rogue police officers like Rashid have been on a killing spree without
consequences.
During the COVID-19 pandemic and the resulting containment measures, we also
witnessed police brutality, especially during curfew hours. The establishment of the
Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) was a clear indication of the need
to monitor police actions, particularly regarding brutality. Numerous cases of
extrajudicial killings and enforced disappearances have been linked to the police.
While the examples mentioned above are not exhaustive, they provide insight into
the prevalence of police brutality and impunity within the police force. This brutality
is a pressing issue that must be addressed. The Prime Cabinet Secretary's denial of
police brutality in Kenya is a gross misrepresentation of the truth.
That is why civil society organizations and social justice centres are working
together to expose this impunity and advocate for the prosecution of all
perpetrators. Urgent police reforms are essential in the country.
