Report indicts Kenya police for using force against protesters

Four people were killed and hundreds injured during protests last year, a new report has revealed.

ARTICLE 19, a civil rights advocacy group, indicates that there is continued use of force against protesters.

The report also indicates that it recorded only five people as having been charged with killing and assaulting protesters, suggesting a high level of impunity regarding attacks on the right to protest.

On September 2, three people were charged with shooting and killing a protester during an incident in January.

Senior Sergeant Julius Taporu Dikir, of the Narok County Rangers, was charged with killing Sikona ole Muntet after the officer allegedly opened fire on a crowd of demonstrators who sought to present a petition to Narok Governor Samuel Tunai.

In Trans Nzoia, Leonard Makona and Eliud Nabiimba, who attacked journalists during protests in June, were charged.

A large number of police officers involved in violently dispersing protesters are yet to be held to account.

ARBITRARY ARRESTS

The document dubbed ‘Country report: Protest in Kenya 2015’ shows that numerous protesters were arbitrarily arrested, detained and later released, some without charges.

According to the report, arresting and charging peaceful protesters violates the freedom of assembly and freedom of expression as outlined in Article 37 of the Constitution.

On May 14, some 17 protesters who took part in the ‘Occupy Parliament’ protests against raising the salaries of Members of Parliament were charged with taking part in a riot and breach of peace.

Protests in 2015 were repeatedly met with violence. Police even used force under the provisions of “Public Order Act”, a law that has remained in Kenya’s statute books since the 1950s.

On January 19, police fired tear gas at 100 pupils of Langata Road Primary and a number of activists who were protesting the grabbing of the school playground by a private develop