Civil society groups cry foul over new Covid 19 containment regulations

Fifteen civil society groups want the police to assure the public that their rights will not be violated as Covid-19 containment measures are enforced.

The groups yesterday released a joint statement asking Hilary Mutyambai (pictured), the Inspector General (IG) of Police, to ensure that cases of torture and assault of civilians by the police will not take place. 

The civil rights groups also said they are opposed to the creation of the Covid-19 Special Enforcement units.

The activists expressed fears that the police were likely to assault people while enforcing the new protocols that were announced by President Uhuru Kenyatta on Wednesday.

Mutyambai (pictured) has insisted that the role of the police will be limited to supporting the newly created multi-agency team to enforce the Covid-19 protocols.

He said the police will only back up the County Multi-Agency Group which will be in the forefront of making sure that members of the public adhere to the health guidelines.

The multi-agency team will have powers to lead containment operations in their area of command and will only seek the help of the police when they need back up.

Police, Mutyambai said, will only play a leading role in enforcing the curfew.

He directed the police to make sure that all bars are closed at the stipulate time and to stop the movement of people past curfew hours.

“Public service vehicles that violate the Covid-19 regulations will have their licenses revoked,” Mutyambai warned. “I will not waste time taking people to court. We will have your license cancelled.”

In their joint statement, the civil society groups said: “Our experience is that security agencies, particularly the police, have time and again failed to enforce the regulations and instead used the regulations to harass, intimidate, torture and even kill Kenyans.”

Groups that appended their signatures on the statement are Haki Africa, Kituo cha haki Kibera and Wanawake Mashinani Initiative.