Prime Cabinet Secretary (PCS) and Cabinet Secretary for Foreign and Diaspora Affairs, Musalia Mudavadi, has defended Kenya’s human rights record and the integrity of the police service at the Africa union (UN).
Mudavadi took a bold stand while representing Kenya at the 44th Ordinary Session of the Executive Council of the African Union (AU) in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
Responding to an assertion by the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights, Mudavadi said police brutality and use of excessive force do not arise in Kenya.
Additionally, he affirmed that citizens freely report any allegations of police impunity to the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA).
“I emphasized our government’s unwavering commitment to supporting civilian oversight of police work and ensuring zero tolerance to brutality and excessive force.
Notably, I highlighted the crucial role of IPOA, mandated by parliament to ensure accountabilities for all incidents,” he stated.
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“This body investigates such impunity if any and hold individual police officers accountable, including through prosecution,” Mudavadi explained.
He appreciated the work of the commission in protecting human rights in Africa and highlighted Kenya’s alignment to this mandate.
He also appreciated it’s commitment to end statelessness and commuting death sentences to life imprisonment.
IPOA report on police brutality
Kenya is not new to police brutality. The country experienced post-election chaos after 2022 general elections. Azimio leader Raila Odinga contested President William Ruto’s victory and organized countrywide demonstrations.
The protests saw police and the public clash, leading to deaths and destruction of property. In some cases, police were accused of using excessive force to quell the demonstrations.
IPOA established that Kisumu had 33 death cases, Nakuru 2, Nairobi 20, and Kakamega two with several injuries being reported during the period.
“Between Saba Saba and the ceasefire when dialogue started, we have received 237 complaints involving 359 complainers. Deaths we received are 57 that are underactive investigations with some of them being at the tail end of investigation,” IPOA Chair Ann Makori stated.
In January-June 2021 report, the Authority received 1324 complaints. They processed them through investigation, monitoring and inspections of the mentioned police facilities. Finally, they referred the cases to other agencies as processed for action.
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These complaints were from members of public, officers, state, and non-state organizations.
Other incidents of police misconduct that were considered of high interest to the public were taken up on own motion.
Azimio claimed more than 50 people were killed by officers during the protests against the high cost of living.
It accused the government on several occasions of turning to police brutality to disperse innocent protesters.
Former Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo brokered a pact between President Ruto and Azimio leader Raila Odinga which saw demonstrations off.
