Lobbyists have condemned the move by the court to defer plea-taking for 12 police commanders and officers accused of being behind the death of Baby Pendo.
The High Court on Thursday extended the warrants of arrest issued against the officers accused of crimes against humanity relating to the unlawful killing of Baby Samantha Pendo during the post-election protests in Kisumu, Nyalenda, in 2017.
In a statement, the lobbyists said the deferring of plea-taking is a human rights violation against several citizens.
According to them, deferring plea-taking is a major disappointment to several survivors and victim's families.
“This case is pivotal in establishing police accountability and ensuring justice for victims of police violence,” the statement read.
“This is the first time in Kenya police commanders and officers are being charged in Kenyan courts under the International Crimes Act as domesticated by the Rome Statute in Kenya. This case applies the principle of command responsibility for police commanders who fail to effectively reign in or effectively command police action in the course of duty.”
Twenty-one human rights organisations under the auspices of the Police Reforms Working Group said they stand in solidarity with all victims and survivors of police violence.
They are the Independent Medico-Legal Unit (IMLU), Kariobangi Paralegal Network, Defenders Coalition, Katiba Institute, Social Justice Centres Working Group (SJCW), Kenyan Section of the International Commission of Jurists (IC) Kenya), International Justice Mission (IJM-K), HAKI Africa, Amnesty International Kenya, Women Empowerment Link, Social Welfare Development Program (SOWED), Kenya Human Rights Commission (KHRC), Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA- Kenya), International Centre for Transitional Justice (ICTJ - Kenya) and Transparency International.
Others are the Kenya, Shield For Justice, Wangu Kanja Foundation, Constitution and Reform Education Consortium (CRECO), Kenyans for Peace, Truth and Justice (KPTJ) and Peace Brigades International Kenya (PBI Kenya).
“We anchor our hope in law and call on the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions and the Judiciary to swiftly and comprehensively act in the interests of all victims and survivors of police violations during the 2017 Post Election Violence,” the statement reads.
“Should justice be delivered, the Police Reforms Working Group is confident this shall also create greater respect and accountability for police officers who break our laws and use excessive and unnecessary force in future.”
They called on Kenyans to actively follow the proceedings of the case.
They added that the Kenyan Constitution recognises the expectations of all Kenyans for a government based on the essential values of human rights, equality, freedom, democracy, social justice and the rule of law.