The Usalama Reforms Forum is alarmed by the increasing spate of violence involving uniformed
officers and civilians. Recent shocking actions involving assault of police officers by civilians
and extra-judicial killings by the police are particularly concerning.
The execution of three people by police officers last week has shown the world what Kenyans
know is still happening all too often in their country – that impunity still reigns particularly
among the law enforcement agencies. It has shown that the arrival of the new Constitution and
the moves made so far toward police reform are not nearly enough to put a stop to extra-judicial
killings and the system that allows police to act outside the law. It has shown that, even since the
call from the UN’s Philip Alston and the Ransley Commission in 2009 for moves to bring an end
to these kinds of actions by security forces in Kenya, not much has changed on the ground.
Certainly not enough to make sure that police do not behave like this, and that if they do,
certainly not enough to make sure that there are swift and definite processes and consequences.
The results are all evident. When police officers are increasingly conducting their affairs outside
of the law, demand bribes and block the public’s quest for fair administrative action, restiveness
and violent reaction by citizens towards the police become the norm rather than the exception.
The Usalama Reform Forum condemns all acts of unlawful violence and extrajudicial killings by
police officers in this country the same way it condemns violence by citizens directed at officers
on duty.
Usalama supports the actions of the police service and the government in ensuring that the
officers in question in this incident were immediately identified and suspended from duty. This is
however not sufficient. Usalama demands that an immediate and open inquiry be launched and
these officers be immediately arrested pending further investigations.
Usalama will be watching this case and urges the government to follow through on its promises
to properly an promptly investigate this slaying and prosecute those responsible.
Further, Usalama calls on the government to immediately and urgently work with the Police
Reform Implementation Commission and Parliament to ensure that the Independent Policing
Oversight Authority is brought into being.
officers and civilians. Recent shocking actions involving assault of police officers by civilians
and extra-judicial killings by the police are particularly concerning.
The execution of three people by police officers last week has shown the world what Kenyans
know is still happening all too often in their country – that impunity still reigns particularly
among the law enforcement agencies. It has shown that the arrival of the new Constitution and
the moves made so far toward police reform are not nearly enough to put a stop to extra-judicial
killings and the system that allows police to act outside the law. It has shown that, even since the
call from the UN’s Philip Alston and the Ransley Commission in 2009 for moves to bring an end
to these kinds of actions by security forces in Kenya, not much has changed on the ground.
Certainly not enough to make sure that police do not behave like this, and that if they do,
certainly not enough to make sure that there are swift and definite processes and consequences.
The results are all evident. When police officers are increasingly conducting their affairs outside
of the law, demand bribes and block the public’s quest for fair administrative action, restiveness
and violent reaction by citizens towards the police become the norm rather than the exception.
The Usalama Reform Forum condemns all acts of unlawful violence and extrajudicial killings by
police officers in this country the same way it condemns violence by citizens directed at officers
on duty.
Usalama supports the actions of the police service and the government in ensuring that the
officers in question in this incident were immediately identified and suspended from duty. This is
however not sufficient. Usalama demands that an immediate and open inquiry be launched and
these officers be immediately arrested pending further investigations.
Usalama will be watching this case and urges the government to follow through on its promises
to properly an promptly investigate this slaying and prosecute those responsible.
Further, Usalama calls on the government to immediately and urgently work with the Police
Reform Implementation Commission and Parliament to ensure that the Independent Policing
Oversight Authority is brought into being.
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