Human rights activists at the Coast have accused police of instigating violence during anti-government demonstrations called by the Azimio leadership.
The activists, under the Coast CSOs Network for Human Rights, want the police held responsible for the deaths of 20 Kenyans they allege were killed during the demonstrations.
“They were all killed by bullets from the police,” Muslims for Human Rights director Khelef Khalifa said on Friday. They spoke at the Muhuri Legal Aid Clinic.
But the civil society group did not provide any evidence of the alleged 20 deaths.
Khalifa said in 2018 when Azimio leader Raila Odinga was sworn in as the People’s President at Uhuru Park, no police was deployed to disperse those who attended the ceremony.
“There was a mammoth crown, Raila was sworn in and people went away peacefully. No one was injured, no one died,” he said.
Haki Yetu’s Marius Kioko and Coast CSO Network chairman Zedekiah Adika said President William Ruto should listen to the cry of Kenyans.
There should be concerted efforts to address the issues Kenyans are raising including the high cost of living, he said.
“The intelligence people should be truthful with the President. Kenyans are raising concerns, they are not complaining. President Ruto’s statement in public should be in compliance with the law,” Adika said.
He said the rule of law should be followed by all Kenyans.
The court stopped the implementation of the Finance Act 2023.
The Act had, among other things, proposed the increment of taxes on fuel from eight per cent to 16 per cent.
On Friday, Adika said: “Don’t increase prices of commodities based on an Act that has been considered illegal.”
He said only demonstrators have been arrested by police and some charged.
However, the police, who allegedly shot at the demonstrators killing some have not been arrested.
“Why are we not seeing the police arrested? What is more dangerous? Deaths or people dancing on the streets? We should see the police who killed 20 people during demonstrations arrested,” he said.
The activist called for the arrest of Kuria West MP Mathias Robi on the basis of what they called “foul language intended to fan further violence and insensitive to the current context”.
“You can’t tell police to shoot people,” he said.
Betty Sharon, from Collaboration of Women in Development, said the demonstrations are now taking a tribal angle and warned that if left unchecked will fan tribal skirmishes.
“This is not about Azimio. Kenyans are tired and hungry. Not all areas witnessing demonstrations are Azimio areas,” Sharon said.
She said innocent women going about their business have fallen victim to police brutality, adding that this will not make Kenyans not feel hungry and tired.
“Now we have seen even toddlers going for maandamano. If they kill us, those who remain will still demonstrate,” said Sharon.
Haki Yetu’s Kioko said they will take legal action against Central police station boss in Mombasa Kipkirui Bor for his conduct against the demonstrations.
“We call upon IPOA to act on these specific instances when he was notified of the demos and went ahead and threatened the activists,” Kioko said.