Organization calls upon disciplinary sanctions against police officers who violate the law
Amnesty International Kenya has called upon all criminal justice system actors to reinvigorate and rededicate to the promise of a professional police service.
In a press statement, the organisation encouraged the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) and the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) not to relent in their mandate to ensure accountability and justice for all Kenyans unlawfully killed or hurt by law enforcement officers.
“We urge the Ministry of Interior and Coordination of National Government, National Police Service Inspector General, National Police Service Commission (NPSC) and the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) to exercise zero-tolerance for policemen and women who break the law. Here like in the United States of America, police officers must be bound by the law and face disciplinary and criminal sanctions when they wilfully violate the law,” urged the organization.
According to the organisation, it continues to stand with the families and victims of police brutality and unlawful killings in the country.
“We continue to follow the cases involving the police killing of 13-year-old Yassin Moyo (2020), Leeds University Student Carilton Maina (2019), Meru University student leader Evans Njoroge (2018), Baby Pendo (2017), Willie Kimani, Josephat
Mwenda and Joseph Muiruri (2016) and many more,” stated the statement.
Further, it said that it supports the Media Council of Kenya’s concerns with the DCI declaration to summon Royal Media investigative journalists for the #SilahaMtaani expose.
The organisation urged the DCI to desist and instead, request Internal Affairs Unit (IAU) and IPOA assistance to investigate, apprehend and prosecute the criminal elements exposed by the program.
“We remind the DCI that media freedom and independence is guaranteed by the Constitution Article 34. The State remains barred from controlling, interfering or penalizing any person for any publication. We encourage the media to continue playing the role of exposing criminality and injustice without fear or favour,” it stated.
The organisation joined the victims’ families, human rights activists and the world over in celebrating the guilty verdict handed to former Minneapolis Police Officer Derek Chauvin for the unlawful killing of George Floyd.
According to the organisation, the guilty verdict is a major step towards justice and accountability for the marginalized and disenfranchised in all societies.
“We note the parallels of violent policing and the criminalization of poor, young black lives not only in America but in Brazil, Nigeria and Kenya. Too many of our youth are murdered and brutalized with impunity under the guise of fighting crime,” it stated.
The organisation stated that too often, police officers are shielded and their victims denied their day in court.
“Too often the independent roles of investigators, prosecutors and judges are usurped and the rule of law, equality before the law and human rights undermined,” it added.
