By Enyichukwu Enemanna
Amnesty International has condemned the Kenyan President’s order to the security forces to open fire at protesters, arguing that it would fuel more violence at a time of mounting anger and deadly anti-government demonstrations.
President William Ruto had last week ordered that protesters who engaged in violence “should be shot in the leg” so that they would be decimated and not killed.
According to rights groups, at least 38 people have died in recent demonstrations against police brutality led by young Kenyans.
Read also:Kenya: Ruto Orders Shooting Of Protesters Attacking Businesses
Amnesty International’s Kenya director, Irungu Houghton, on Tuesday said the president’s comments were “unlawful”.
“It is extremely dangerous for politicians to instruct police officers… on how to conduct policing during protests,” he said.
Irungu said such orders “would escalate the levels of violence” through “greater conflict between police officers, protesters, bystanders, counter-protesters, and even criminals and bullies”.
Rights groups have previously warned about the presence of armed men during protests and noted reports suggesting that some operate alongside police officers. Kenyan police have repeatedly denied the allegations.
International criticism has also mounted, with the United Nations urging restraint.
In a report released Tuesday by the Police Reforms Working Group, a coalition of grassroots and national rights groups, including Amnesty, discovered the recent marches were “marred by state violence, unlawful policing tactics”.
The report said it had documented “the use of live ammunition against unarmed civilians, extrajudicial executions, disappearances, and unlawful arrests”.
“The evidence points to serious allegations of unlawful conduct and extrajudicial killings by individuals suspected to be police officers,” it said, adding that over 500 civilians and police officers were wounded.
The National Police Service spokesperson told AFP such allegations were part of a “false narrative”.
Interior Minister Kipchumba Murkomen on Tuesday said police excesses during protests will be investigated, adding, “There is no law that excuses a police officer to commit crimes or kill people”.
Murkomen also stated that he will issue a policy directive on the use of force and firearms by officers on Friday.
The interior ministry said more than 1,500 people had been arrested during the last two demonstrations, with 71 being handled by the anti-terror unit.
Ruto had issued the order in response to a report alluding to widespread looting and vandalism of public facilities during the protests last week, with many businesses forced to close and employees remaining home to avoid being caught up in violence.
The report noted the protests were responsible for an “economic loss possibly as much as 1.1 billion Kenyan Shillings ($14 million)” but did not elaborate.
