A group of Human Rights defenders has asked the Government to ensure that law enforcement deployed to handle the insecurity in Nairobi respects human rights.
They said that due to widespread insecurity, the government has responded by deploying security agents including General Service Unit (GSU) and the Rapid Deployment Unit (RDU) as a reinforcement to the security agents patrolling the city.
They said in a press statement on Thursday that there is a history of rights violations by police in the country.
“Past experience has shown us that the security agents have a tendency of using extra-judicial actions including torture and enforced disappearances while responding to different forms of insecurity,” they said.
The groups had met for a Civic Freedoms Forum in Nairobi.
They said that as much as civil society appreciates the positive gesture by the state, they would remain vigilant to ensure the enforcement is conducted under strict adherence to the rule of law.
The wave of insecurity in Nairobi has been a big concern over the past few weeks, eventually forcing President William Ruto to intervene.
He called a meeting with all Nairobi Police chiefs on Wednesday.
They said that the Kenya Kwanza Regime had pledged to end all forms of extra-judicial executions by police.
They also promised to determine, all judgments and orders against the Kenyan government within 60 days, among other pledges.
“We ask that the government form a multi-stakeholder team to lead in the review of Court Orders against the Kenyan government, and create a plan to make sure that the government abides by all court rulings,” they said.
They also asked that the government respect the freedom of the media and desist from threats and intimidations against the media including editors, and journalists.
Among the groups were the Kenya Human Rights Commission, Independent Medico-Legal Unit, Muslims for Human Rights - MUHURI and the Defenders Coalition.
