Muslims for Human Rights has said it will sue Lamu police for allegedly battering a man to near death last week.
Yusuf Abuu, 19, who is fighting for his life at the Lamu King Fahad Hospital is said to have been brutally beaten and injured by the officers.
However, Lamu county commissioner Joseph Kanyiri dismissed as untrue, allegations that the man was beaten and injured by police.
He instead said the man is known to have a pre-existing chronic medical condition that has seen him seek medical attention on the issue before.
Kanyiri said the family is free to report the matter to the police or IPOA for investigation.
“It’s not true that the boy was ever assaulted by any police officer anywhere in Lamu. The boy had an altercation with his brother over a duck they had planned to sell together on December 16, 2018 but could not agree on how to share the proceeds. Their mother preferred to resolve the issue at home and personally asked the officers to whom the issue has been reported to hand over back the matter to her. They are however free to report to the police station, get an OB No and IPOA for action,” he said.
Muhuri said Abuu and several others were arrested on suspicion of stealing a neighbour's duck at Ndau village in Lamu East.
Doctors said he had a suffered a ruptured appendix as a result of physical blunt trauma.
His condition has continued to deteriorate even after a major surgery was conducted last week to try and repair the burst appendix.
Before slipping into a coma, Abuu is said to have told his parents that police had threatened to ‘deal with him thoroughly’ should he reveal that he had been beaten while in custody.
His family is now seeking justice and also wants police to come out and explain the reason for their actions.
Read:
They have appealed to the Independent Police Oversight Authority (IPOA) to intervene and probe the matter.
Speaking at the King Fahad Hospital grounds shortly after visiting the man and his family at the facility, Muhuri rapid response officer Francis Auma condemned the incident and termed it unnecessary police brutality.
He said Muhuri will be moving to court to take up Lamu police on the case and many others which have been reported to his office by residents.
Auma said it was unlawful for police to beat up civilians whether or not they were guilty of what they are being accused of.
“It’s quite unfortunate that police who should be protecting citizens and restoring order have now become agents of brutality.
This particular case is even saddening. The man was accused of stealing.You have arrested him,why not proceed with prosecution and charge him?"
Auma posed.
He said Muhuri will take care of all legal fees in the matter.
Auma asked Interior CS Fred Matiang’I to intervene and probe senior security officers in Lamu for breach of the Human Rights Act.
He said it was a matter of concern that police were getting comfortable and bolder with brutality and other human rights violations with the full knowledge of their bosses.
Lamu county Muhuri Field Assistant Officer Ali Habib revealed that over 20 cases of police brutality have been reported to their office between November last year to date.
He said many of the reported cases involve numerous incidents or arbitrary arrests of suspicion of terrorism and crime while many others reported being beaten and injured while in police custody on various grounds.
Many others are believed to have gone unreported as the police have always threatened to ‘deal’ with anyone who speaks out on the brutality they encounter at the hands of the officers.
“We know there are many others who are too scared of reported their cases. Not a day goes by before we receive a complaint from a member of the public who has either been assaulted by police while in custody or arrested for no apparent reason at all,” Habib said.
He said some of the cases have been forwarded to Ipoa for action.
Read also: