The death toll from recent demonstrations in Kenya has reached 65, with the police watchdog Ipoa attributing many fatalities to police actions. Criticism mounts against the government's handling of civil unrest, as rights groups decry the use of deadly force.
Kenya's Police Under Fire for Excessive Force Amid Protests
Kenya's Police Under Fire for Excessive Force Amid Protests
A recent report by the Independent Policing Oversight Authority reveals the troubling use of disproportionate force by Kenyan police during a series of protests, resulting in dozens of deaths and injuries.
Kenya's police watchdog has issued a damning report accusing law enforcement of employing "disproportionate force" during a wave of protests that led to 65 fatalities in recent weeks. The Independent Policing Oversight Authority (Ipoa) disclosed these findings on Thursday, indicating that police actions were primarily responsible for the tragic outcomes.
The report emphasised the intrusion of "goons" who hijacked the peaceful nature of the protests, complicating the response from authorities. Over a span of six weeks, four major demonstrations were conducted to voice frustrations over police brutality and government policies, with the initial protest in Nairobi on June 12 being relatively peaceful. This initial gathering followed the death of Albert Ojwang, a young teacher and blogger who perished in police custody under questionable circumstances.
As a result of public outcry, three police officers are facing charges for Ojwang’s murder. The protests escalated, however, leading to several critical incidents including the fatal shooting of street vendor Boniface Kariuki during protests on June 17, which resulted in another officer being charged. The demonstration on June 23, intended to commemorate a year since similar protests occurred, saw 23 lives lost.
The most deadly day of unrest was recorded on July 7, with a staggering 41 fatalities. Throughout this period, authorities documented 342 civilian injuries and 171 injuries among police officers, alongside incidents of looting and property damage. The Ipoa report indicated serious breaches of constitutional policing protocols, including excessive use of force and a failure to uphold citizens' rights.
In response to the findings, a police spokesperson redirected inquiries to a statement from the Interior Ministry which attributed the unrest to "criminals" and "anarchists." In the wake of the protests, President William Ruto controversially ordered police to target protesters' legs with gunfire rather than lethal shots, while rebutting claims of excessive force by denouncing the protests as "terrorism."
Critics, including human rights organizations, have voiced strong concerns over the government's approach, accusing it of sanctioning and sometimes promoting the violent suppression of demonstrators. As tensions continue to rise, the future of civil liberties in Kenya remains uncertain.
