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Justice for Victims of Police Brutality in Kenya
Isabella M.
started this petition to
Uhuru Kenyatta and the newly elected Kenyan government
Dear Friends,
The police should be protecting the public not abusing them, and yet in Kenya, there are countless cases of people's loved ones being arbitrarily arrested, never to be seen again; there are cases of beatings and torture of detainees, often leading to death; there are cases of "robbers" or "gang-members" being killed on a shoot-now-ask-never basis. This is not just a problem that affects Kenyans. British citizen Alexander Monson died from blunt force head injury sustained while in custody in Ukunda Police Station. This happened in May 2012 and yet no one has been charged with his murder. His case is one of thousands.
In just four years, between 2008 and 2012, human rights groups estimate that the police were responsible for approximately 1000 extrajudicial killings, however no official statistics exist. Nor is there an official record of deaths in police custody nor deaths as a result of excessive force. Even worse, no one is being held to account. Human Rights activist Odhiambo Oyoko at a protest on the 4th of May said, “There is no accountability within the police. They act the way they want because they know that nothing will happen to them”. This must change.
The Kenyan government has promised to usher in police reforms but what about all the people who have already suffered at the hands of the police? As a matter of priority, there should be an official register of deaths in police custody and deaths in which the police have been implicated. Furthermore, the Kenyan government should openly support and facilitate the Independent Policing Oversight Authority and civil bodies such as the Independent Medico Legal Unit so that they can look into these cases unhindered and help the victims’ families get some overdue justice.
The police have enjoyed impunity for too long. Please sign the petition and tell the government to ensure the police cannot get away with murder.
The police should be protecting the public not abusing them, and yet in Kenya, there are countless cases of people's loved ones being arbitrarily arrested, never to be seen again; there are cases of beatings and torture of detainees, often leading to death; there are cases of "robbers" or "gang-members" being killed on a shoot-now-ask-never basis. This is not just a problem that affects Kenyans. British citizen Alexander Monson died from blunt force head injury sustained while in custody in Ukunda Police Station. This happened in May 2012 and yet no one has been charged with his murder. His case is one of thousands.
In just four years, between 2008 and 2012, human rights groups estimate that the police were responsible for approximately 1000 extrajudicial killings, however no official statistics exist. Nor is there an official record of deaths in police custody nor deaths as a result of excessive force. Even worse, no one is being held to account. Human Rights activist Odhiambo Oyoko at a protest on the 4th of May said, “There is no accountability within the police. They act the way they want because they know that nothing will happen to them”. This must change.
The Kenyan government has promised to usher in police reforms but what about all the people who have already suffered at the hands of the police? As a matter of priority, there should be an official register of deaths in police custody and deaths in which the police have been implicated. Furthermore, the Kenyan government should openly support and facilitate the Independent Policing Oversight Authority and civil bodies such as the Independent Medico Legal Unit so that they can look into these cases unhindered and help the victims’ families get some overdue justice.
The police have enjoyed impunity for too long. Please sign the petition and tell the government to ensure the police cannot get away with murder.
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