HAKI Africa has demanded an investigation into the officer caught on camera attacking journalists during the Azimio protests on Thursday, 30 March 2023.
The plainclothes officer was seen lobbying for teargas canisters inside a vehicle used by journalists at the Kware stage in Embakasi.
The human rights organization condemned the incident and expressed shock and disbelief in a letter to the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA).
The officers went too far in their use of excessive force, according to the lobby group.
“The videos show the said officer violently breaking the windows of the vehicle and clearly shooting a tear gas canister into the vehicle. He did all these actions when his life or any other person’s life or property was not in imminent danger. Clearly, this is the use of excessive force by an officer who at that point in time was meant to protect property,” HAKI Africa’s Executive Director Hussein Khalid stated.
While condemning the incident, the lobby group called on the suspect’s immediate suspension to pave the way for investigations.
They insisted that failure to hold the officer accountable would encourage impunity and make Kenyans lose faith in IPOA.
“As the body responsible for investigating police excesses, we write to you to take action and ensure this incident does not go unpunished. As mentioned above, the video and pictures have since gone viral, meaning many Kenyans, including police officers, have viewed it,” Khalid observed.
“If no action is taken, it will not only encourage police impunity but also make Kenyans lose faith in IPOA and worse still, know that they are at the mercy of police officers who can use excessive force against them and go unpunished,” he added.
During the incident, NTV cameraman Eric Isinte and KTN cameraman Timothy Aguna sustained injuries after they were hit by a teargas canister and a blunt object respectively.
