Police have executed 85 people in 2015, rights agency claims

Independent Medico-Legal Unit executive officer Peter Kiama

Kenya: The Independent Medico-Legal Unit (IMLU) claims there have been 97 cases killings by police this year out of which 85 were summarily executed.

The organisation said six of the victims were killed in protection of life by police and Kenya Wildlife Service.

This year we have recorded 97 cases including 85 summary executions, and 6 killed in protection of life by police officers and Kenya Wildlife Service.

IMLU said in 2014, they recorded 199 people killed by police.

Executive officer Peter Kiama said out of the 199, 181 of whom were summary executed, 14 were shot to protect life and four were killed in unclear circumstances.

“These statistics put into question the commitment of the National Police Service to the respect of the right to life prescribed under Article 26 of the constitution and the assumption of innocence until proven guilty by an impartial judicial process,” said Kiama.

He said in January there were 23 executions, February, March and April each recorded nine, May recorded six, June seven, July one case, August 20 and September 13 executions.

Kiama said Nairobi County tops in the highest number of executions recorded with a total number of 39, followed by Isiolo with six, Kirinyaga and Nakuru with five Turkana, Mombasa and Homabay had four, Narok and Nyeri with three Bungoma, Muranga, Kajiado, Kwale, Lamu, Laikipia, Kilifi, Kiambu and Uasin Gishu Counties had two each. Kisii, Meru, Marsabit, Nyandarua, Busia and Baringo Counties each recorded one.

Police said all allegations on extrajudicial killings have been investigated and where there was evidence, action taken.

Spokesman Charles Owino said where complaints are raised, they investigate and take action.

On his part, Kiama said, over the last two years, the situation has been made worse by the retrogressive legislations that are not only meant to rob the National Police Service of its independence but also entrench police impunity in the country.

IMLU monitors police conduct through reports submitted by victims and/or their families, through their network of monitors across the country and monitoring the print and electronic media.

“Of grave concern is the impunity that keeps feeding this practice, with minimal or no accountability for the numerous extra-judicial executions, enforced disappearances and deaths in police custody across the country.”

The organisation launched ‘‘Our Guns: Our Security: Our Dilemma’’ in 2014 in which it said police were responsible for 1,254 out of 1,870 gun-related deaths between 2009-2013.

Kiama said the agency has witnessed spirited efforts to amend numerous legislations to remove safeguards for public participation, accountability, access to information, and the freedom of peaceful assembly and association among other key provisions of the Constitution.

In 2014, he said they facilitated 14 post mortem examinations to provide medical legal evidence in a quest for justice on behalf of victims and survivors.

This year the organization has done six post mortems.

Three police officers have since been charged in Nairobi, Embu and Nakuru Law courts with murder.

Kiama urged for the full and independent functioning of the Internal Affairs Unit (IAU) to act as a professional arm for first-hand investigations of police impunity.

“We urge all the governors and county commissioners to hasten the establishment of the County Policing Authorities as the vehicles for enhanced cooperation between police and citizens, accountability for police action and enhanced welfare and capacity of police officers.”