The exponential rise in deaths involving the Kenyan Police Service has been tied to too much freedom.
The events of August 1st 2021 where two Embu brothers lost their lives in the hands of police officers marked protests and uproar on police brutality in Kenya.
Here are some of the highlights that met police resistance this month
- Kianjokoma brothers
On August 1st 2021, two brothers Emmanuel and Benson were arrested for flouting the curfew restrictions in place. The following day, the family searched for them in different police stations and they were later found dead. Citizens started protesting and demanding justice for the two and when they went on the streets, the police started using live bullets to disperse the crowd. One man was killed in the process.
The police portrayed that they can use excess force and live bullets which is not supposed to be the case. The police officers in question were not arrested not until there was trending hashtags about the unfound justice for the brothers.
- Kayole man
On 19th August 2021, there was a protest in Kayole over the killing of a man. Allegedly the man was found outside past 11 pm and he was arrested. He then texted his wife the number plates of the car he was in and later found dead.
It was less than a week after the burial of the Kianjokoma brothers and even after the protests, no arrests have been made or reporting on the same. This shows that police have a way of getting away with the injustices they are accused of committing.
- Vitalis Owino
On 3rd May 2020, Mr. Vitalis Owino succumbed to injuries sustained after being arrested in Mathare. People protested and the police officers who committed the crime were arrested after one year on 17th August 2021 to be arraigned in court. This shows that crimes committed by the members of the police force always delay to be tried. Police officers have now the freedom to commit any crime as they know that justice will be delayed for those who have suffered in their hands.
- Kahawa West killings
On 25th August 2021, two people were shot dead in Kahawa West. This came when residents protested demolition that had happened the previous night conducted by the NMS. The police officers used live bullets to disperse the protesting crowd. The OCPD in Kahawa West during an interview said that if you approach a police officer who has a gun roughly, do not expect anything else but him using his live bullets. This statement shows that the police officers are allowed to use live bullets on unarmed civilians.
In August 2021 during an interview with NTV Kenya where the PS said that those who cannot be at home before curfew are the problem and not the police. Such a statement gives the police the power to do whatever they want to punish those who flout the curfew directives. The citizens are now using hashtags like #endpolicebrutality and #endcurfewnow to try and prevent more deaths or harm to those who are caught outside after 10pm.
