• Azimio coalition to present a petition to IPOA over unwarranted actions by the police on Monday.
• Human rights organisations condemned the conduct of the police during the Monday anti-government protest saying the law enforcers took sides.
Image: EZEKIEL AMINGA
Nairobi senator Edwin Sifuna has said the Azimio coalition will present a petition to IPOA over the conduct of police during Monday’s demos.
Sifuna said Azimio will present complaints to IPOA about two specific police officers who he says acted in an unwarranted manner while the Azimio faction was trying to carry out a peaceful protest.
“What we have decided to do as a coalition is to identify individual police officers who must then bear responsibility for their acts and omissions yesterday,” Sakaja said.
He noted that the demonstrations by the Azimio coalition were protected by the law and that he believes that the Kenya Kwanza government is only interested in mischaracterizing them as operating beyond the realms of law.
“We’re challenging them that if they are having difficulty with article 37 and they always chest thump they have the majority of numbers in the National Assembly and in the Senate, let them bring an amendment to do away with article 37 so that we can know we’re fully back in the Kanu days,” he said.
“As far as we are concerned we are within the law and if anyone thinks that anybody operated outside the law they know what to do, arrest people, charge them and let’s see what charges you bring against them.”
On Tuesday a group of human rights organisations condemned the conduct of the police during the Monday anti-government protest saying the law enforcers took sides.
Kenya Human Rights Commission (KHRC) noted that the police conduct during the protest was characterised by unlawful arrests, excessive and violent use of force, injuries, killings, and restriction of movements.
According to the organisations this is a reminder of the dark doctorial tactics of the KANU – Kenyatta and Moi regimes.
“This unfortunate development contradicts the expected transition in the Constitution from a police force to a service and regime to democratic police. The Constitution under Article 244 provides that National Police Service shall comply with fundamental standards of human rights and freedoms."
“We strongly condemn this barbaric conduct by the state and the police which have refused to transform since colonial times,” the statement said.
However, Interior Cabinet Secretary Kithure Kindiki commended police for how they conducted themselves during the protests.
“The National Police Service (NPS) has done our Country proud, despite the day-long provocation by unruly protesters. Kenya must end impunity and apply one Constitution and one set of laws for everyone, for enduring peace and stability of our Nation,” Kindiki said.