Amnesty Kenya has issued a strong call to Kenya’s security organs to uphold the fundamental rights of protesters amidst ongoing anti-government demonstrations in various parts of the country that have been ongoing for three weeks.
In a statement released on Tuesday, Amnesty’s Executive Director, Irungu Houghton, expressed deep concern over recent occurrences of what he described as unnecessary use of force by the police.
“The authorities’ response in the past two weeks has resulted in unnecessary and excessive force, leading to tragic loss of life and severe injuries,” the statement emphasized.
On Monday, the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights (KNCHR) released a report indicating that 39 individuals had lost their lives, including 12-year-old Kennedy Onyango. The report also documented 39 cases of forced disappearances and 361 injuries across the country.
Amnesty highlighted the importance of the National Police Service (NPS) and the Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) operating strictly within the boundaries of the law during the ongoing #OccupyEverywhere demonstrations.
“Amnesty International recalls the High Court ruling in Malindi on June 28, 2024, which temporarily restrained security agencies from using lethal and other less-lethal weapons against peaceful protesters,” Houghton stated.
The court injunction prohibited the NPS from utilizing water cannons, tear gas, live ammunition, and other harsh tactics during peaceful demonstrations, including unwarranted arrests, abductions, detentions, harassment, intimidation, torture, and any form of cruel or degrading treatment.
Furthermore, the police overseeing the protests were directed not to resort to excessive force, violence, or engage in extrajudicial killings during the demonstrations.
Amnesty observed that during last week’s protests, medical personnel attending to the injured faced exposure to tear gas, arrests, and intimidation by security and military personnel.
“Moreover, lawyers seeking to provide legal support to their clients have been denied access, faced arrests, and harassment, while journalists covering the protests have faced confiscation of equipment, arrests, and physical assaults in broad daylight,” Houghton added.
He urged Kenya’s security organs to halt the criminalization of protests and adhere strictly to legal frameworks.