- Houghton further issued demands to be reviewed by police ahead of next week's protests.
- He said the National Police Service should desist from using non-uniformed officers.
Amnesty International director Irungu Houghton on Friday gave five standard operating procedures the police service should review for the coming Tuesday's protest.
Image: WILLISH ADUR
Amnesty International has condemned the killing of Rex Kanyike Masai during the Thursday anti-Finance Bill, 2024 protests.
This comes after Rex was allegedly shot and killed by police during the protests in Nairobi at about 7 pm along Moi Avenue.
Speaking on Friday Amnesty International executive director Irungu Houghton said the Thursday protests were largely peaceful before one person was shot dead.
"We are deeply concerned and outraged by the killing of Rex last night. In what was a remarkable day where we had thousands of Kenyans on the street of Nairobi," he said.
"Under the cover of darkness, we are sad and shocked like the rest of Kenyans to hear that a police officer has killed a young Kenyan."
Houghton further issued seven conditions to be reviewed by police ahead of next week's protests.
He said the National Police Service should desist from using non-uniformed officers.
Houghton said that police officers who wear civilian clothes may be confused with goons aiming to disrupt the protests.
"We are calling on the Inspector General to cease using non-uniformed police officers," he said.
The human rights organisation further called on NPS to release statistics on the numbers of Kenyans injured and those allegedly killed by police.
"We would like to see the same level of attention paid to the police inspector who tragically lost his arms while holding a teargas canister applied to the family of Rex. We would like to see somebody at the level of a CS give the sympathy and compassion to the family of the protester killed," Houghton added.
He further said that there should be arrests made for the alleged killing of the protester by police.
Houghton said that the organisation will continue to monitor and protect Kenyans as they exercise their democratic rights.
The opposition has also condemned the killing of a young protester calling on Inspector General Japhet Koome to resign.
The coalition further also called on Nairobi regional police commander Adamson Bungei to quit.
They have opined that the two failed to protect protesters who were demonstrating peacefully.
"As Azimio and on behalf of the people, we demand that Inspector General Japheth Koome and Nairobi RegionalCommander Adamson Bunge immediately tender their resignations for failing to protect the peaceful demonstrators,'' Azimio said.
Kenyans on social media have vowed to continue with the protests next week from Tuesday.
Despite the protests, the Finance Bill, 2024 passed the second reading stage with 204 MPs voting to approve it against 115 who rejected it.
The Bill now proceeds to the Committee of the whole House for consideration of proposed amendments.
The Committee is comprised of the whole membership of the National Assembly.