The National
Cohesion and Integration Commission (NCIC) has announced five actions the
government must now take to tackle the issue of extrajudicial killings.
The NCIC
said the government must start by releasing findings from previous
investigations into such cases, many of which have remained unresolved for
months.
The
Commission urged the formation of independent inquiries, with the full
involvement of human rights organisations, to probe lingering cases of abuse
and state-linked violence.
Among the
key proposals put forward by NCIC is the prosecution of all perpetrators of
these crimes, regardless of their status or position in the country.
The
Commission also called for restorative justice measures, including compensation
and support for families of victims.
NCIC
emphasised the need for deep-rooted institutional reforms within Kenya’s
security forces to instil a culture of accountability, professionalism, and
respect for human rights.
It also
called upon Parliament and the Judiciary to work in synergy with the Executive
to ensure that human rights are upheld and impunity is decisively rejected at
all levels of governance.
The
Commission’s Chairman, Samuel Kobia, commended President William Ruto for his
public pronouncement that abduction and extrajudicial killings will no longer
be tolerated in Kenya.
“For far too
long, the anguished cries of families whose loved ones disappeared under
unclear circumstances—many allegedly at the hands of security agencies—have
gone unanswered. The President's promise is a critical step toward ending this
dark chapter and restoring the sanctity of life and the dignity of all Kenyans.
It gives a glimmer of hope to the victims,” he said.
The Head of
State made the commitment when he was responding to a question from a
journalist who had asked about the plans put in place by the government to
ensure such cases do not happen again.
“All the
people who disappeared or were abducted have been brought back to their
families and their homes. I have given clarity and firm instructions that
nothing of that kind will happen again,” Ruto responded.
However,
NCIC reminded that justice for affected families requires more than just words.
