In a statement issued to the press on Friday, the irganizations among them Kenya Human Rights Commission , Amnesty international, ARTICLE 19 Eastern africa, Independent medical legal unit (IMLU) among others strongly condemned police officers who have violently continued to suppress unarmed protesters ,journalists, medical personnel , and lawyers using lethal crowd control weapons such as a teargas,water cannons,use of rubber bullets, live bullets and physical assault during the Anti-government protest .
“Security forces have continued to systematically use unnecessary and excessive force against unarmed protesters ,journalist ,medical personnel and lawyers.this has included live bullets ,physical assault ,and lethal crowd control weapons such as tear gas, water cannons and rubber bullets,” Part of the joint Human Rights Communities statement read.
Moi’s Regime in the Current Government
According to the Human Rights Communities, they link whatever has recently been happening in the recent Protest to that of president Moi’s regime that was experienced 34 years ago.
During Moi’s regime, tactics like arbitrary , arrest , detentions, abductions , enforced disappearances, torture ,surveillance and intimidation as well as hiring of goons to infiltrate protest they strike it similarly to what we have witnessed to the current protest that left over 30 people dead.
The Rights Commission alluded that at least 20 people were killed amidst confrontation by police officers against protesters during the sabasaba demonstrators in July 1990.
Sabasaba is a movement that was birthed in the 1990s to protest over Government corruption and repression and agitated for democratic rule in Kenya.
Constitution on Right to Protest
The communities argue that the Constitution grants room for every citizen according to Article 37,the right to peacefully and unarmed assemble, demonstrate , picket and present partitions to public authorities.
In this statement, the government is expected to take all measures necessary to prevent state actors including security officers and private individuals from interfering with citizens enjoyment of their right to protest.
“The state is required to ensure credible investigations and prosecution of both state and non-state actors who violate the rights and provide effective remedies to affected victims.”the statement added
Appeal to the Head of State and It’s Government
The organizations also called upon the Minister for Interior ,Inspector General of Police, the Director of Criminal Investigation and the Director of National Intelligence Service to initiate immediate measures that will ensure full protection and approval of Human Rights to protesters while conducting their Demos.
Such measures include, ceasing all abductions,surveillance ,threats and intimidation of human rights defenders.
In addition they called for the Withdrawing of legal crowd control weapons like live ammunition,facilitate unconditional release of individuals participating in the protest,individuals arrested and detained for unlawfully.
They also appealed to the government through the head of state to acknowledge the violations suffered by victims during the protest and provide effective remedies to address the physical and psychological harms they have suffered.
“We call upon the government to provide effective remedies to address the physical and psychological harms they have suffered ,including issuing a public apology ,provide access to free health care.”said the joint Human Rights Communities