Judiciary, leaders condemn rising police brutality cases

Chief justice Martha Koome speaking during Africa regional workshop on access to justice for persons with disabilities. [Wilberforce Okwiri, Standard] The Judiciary has raised concern over rising cases of excessive police force and misconduct, following the shooting of a protester during Tuesday's demonstrations in Nairobi. In a statement on Wednesday, June 18, Judiciary spokesperson Paul Ndemo said the courts remain committed to delivering timely and independent justice to those affected. ''The Judiciary expresses its concern over rising incidents of unjustified police brutality and growing trend of peaceful protests being infiltrated by goons who disrupt peaceful assemblies, and endanger the lives of protesters,'' said Ndemo. Judiciary now says the National Police Service has a constitutional and legal duty to identify, apprehend, and prosecute both the perpetrators of violence and those who sponsor or orchestrate such acts. Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua also weighed in, accusing the government of abandoning its mandate to protect citizens. ''We have witnessed one of the lowest moments of our post-independence, Kenya. It is uncivilised to sink our nation into international shame under a regime that has no value and dignity for human life,'' said Gachagua. He further condemned the police for shooting a hawker at close range and questioned the training officers receive. "What is the logic behind shooting an innocent and harmless hawker selling masks at a lose range? What police training is this? This is as if the brutal murder of Albert Ojwang in police custody isn't enough.'' Former Chief Justice David Maraga, in a separate statement, condemned what he described as state-sponsored anarchy. "The regime deployed its rogue security operatives to terrorize Kenyans. State-supported and sponsored militias on motorbikes, some wielding clubs, have been witnessed and recorded attacking unarmed civilians in the streets, in coordination with supposedly security forces." He lauded the youth for their courage and role in advocating for justice and accountability. "We celebrate the bravery and relentless pursuit of justice led by Kenya's young people," he added. KANU Chairman Gideon Moi also condemned the police, demanding the arrest and prosecution of the officer who shot and killed a street vendor yesterday. "This was a cold-blooded shooting of an unarmed mask vendor at close range by a police officer during protests in the CBD. It is tragic and a shocking abuse of power by police," said Moi. Busia Senator, Okiya Omtatah, also joined in saying the use of force by the police is a tactic to frighten the public to stop demonstrations. ''If you look at the video there is absolutely no reason for shooting that boy, that is just a way of intimidating the public and I pray that Kenyans should not be intimidated to come out and we liberate this county, ''Omtatah said. The International Commission of Jurists on their part condemned the brutal shooting of Boniface Kariuki, a young vendor selling masks, during Tuesday's public protests. The ICJ said it is ironical that the protest that was intended to bring justice to the death of Albert Ojwang' a teacher who died in the custody of police resulted to another assault. ''We are horrified that in the space of one week, the very act of demanding accountability for one death, has now left another young life hanging in the balance. This reckless use of live ammunition highlights a deeper, long-standing problem: the culture of firearm impunity within the National Police Service,'' Protas Saende the chairperson. The statement further accused the state for failure in upholding human dignity, ''this is not law enforcement, it is a violent rupture of the social contract, a scene more fitting of a failed state than a functioning democracy,''he said. ICJ also demanded an immediate and independent investigation into the shooting of Boniface saying Accountability must extend beyond the officer who pulled the trigger to include the entire chain of command that continues to sanction violence against citizens ''We will not rest until the right to life is treated not as a footnote to democracy, but as its foundation,''Saende Concluded. Boniface Kariuki, a 22-year-old hawker, was shot during Tuesday's protests in the capital by a police officer, an incident that has since sparked widespread condemnation.

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