Amnesty International Kenya has condemned what it terms as punitive enforcement of the Covid-19 restrictions including blocking of major roads in Nairobi after the 8pm curfew period that stranded many motorists and passengers.
According to the organisation, the road blockage resulted in undue punishment of people including the denial of emergency medical care to seek medical treatment.
In a statement released yesterday, Amnesty said health professionals globally have attested that Covid-19 prevention is reliant on adequate communication that affirms the citizens’ role and works with health professionals in seeking compliance – as opposed to punishment and attacks on the people to force compliance.
“We note that the punitive enforcement of the curfew is in stark contrast to the enforcement of the law against those who have stolen monies earmarked for Covid-19 relief. This includes the KEMSA scandal that has occasioned the ARV drugs impasse with USAID,” read the statement.
According Amnesty, the irregular and disproportionate treatment of Kenyans under the guise of Covid-19 enforcement has occasioned the violation of fundamental rights and freedoms.
“By law, all government action must be based on written law; be necessary and proportionate, and must pursue a legitimate aim. The blockade was unnecessary and disproportionate and thus illegal,” said Demas Kiprono, Amnesty Kenya Campaign Manager for Freedoms and Citizenship.
Further, the organisation said the road blockage resulted in undue punishment of people including the denial of emergency medical care to seek medical treatment.
The organisation is now calling on the Ministry of Interior and Coordination of the National Government to urgently review proposed enforcement methods of Covid protocols and ensure that as much as possible they respond to the goal of preserving life.
Further, they urged Treasury to urgently release monies to all county governments to ensure that all devolved functions including the right to health are adequately financed to respond to public health needs, including the Covid-19 pandemic interventions.
“We also call on upon the Senate and the National Assembly (Parliament) to rise to its role of oversight and representation of the people to ensure constitutional and human rights centred responses in managing and containing COVID-19,” the statement adds.
The organisation added that Kenyans should continue adhering to the public health protocols shared by the Ministry of Health in response to Covid-19; however, in the same breath, the Government of Kenya has been urged to adhere to the constitution and human rights norms in all its interventions.
Separately, the Kenya Human Rights Commission (KHRC) also condemned the Saturday, April 17 incident that saw hundreds of motorists on the Thika Super Highway fail to reach their homes in time due to roadblocks placed by police to enforce curfew rule.
Police officers mounted roadblocks on various roads in Nairobi on Saturday night, the most affected being Thika Road, leaving most crying foul on social media, hoping for a speedy resolution.
“ It’s unconscionable that thousands of Kenyans have been prevented from reaching their homes in the pretext of curfew enforcement. There is no excuse for punishing civilians because the government has failed to respond to the challenges facing Kenyans due to imposed restrictions,” read a tweet by Commission.