Coalition urges probe of killings
Kenyan police on Tuesday resorted to tear gas in the capital, Nairobi, to control escalating anti-government demonstrations.
The protests, initially sparked by a controversial finance bill, have morphed into broader discontent with President William Ruto’s leadership and accusations of police brutality.
The protests erupted two weeks ago in response to the proposed tax increases. Human rights groups claimed 39 protesters have been killed by security forces, with the most brutal crackdown happening last Tuesday after the parliament passed the bill. Ruto has since dropped the bill, but the protesters are now demanding for his resignation.
Unrest has spread beyond Nairobi, with demonstrations erupting in major cities like Mombasa and Kisumu.
Kenya National Commission on Human Rights (KNCHR) chairperson, Roseline Odede, said data from records indicate that 39 people have died and 361 injured in relation to the protests countrywide. Also, there were 32 cases of involuntary disappearances and 627 instances of arrests of protesters.
MEANWHILE, the Action Group on Free Civic Space (AGFCS) has condemned the killings. About 15 groups in the coalition that gathered in Lagos called for a comprehensive probe into use of excessive force during the protests, ensuring accountability for those responsible.
They include Spaces for Change (S4C), Elixir Trust Foundation (ETF), Foundation for Environmental Rights Advocacy and Development (FENRAD) Nigeria, Centre for Community Empowerment in Conflict and Peace-building (CCECPeace-Nigeria) and Centre for Citizens with Disabilities (CCD).
On behalf of the coalition, Executive Director of CCECPeace-Nigeria, Salaudeen Hashim and his FENRAD counterpart, Nelson Nwafor, stated: “We, the AGFCS, stand in solidarity with our brothers and sisters in Kenya following these recent tragic events precipitated by the exercise of their fundamental rights to free expression and assembly.
“While our primary focus is on the civic space in West Africa, we firmly believe that the principles of peaceful assembly, freedom of expression and the protection of human rights are universal and must be upheld globally, including throughout Africa.”
The AGFCS, in a statement, called for adequate support for those affected, including medical and psychological assistance for the injured and the families of the deceased.
It also demanded an open and inclusive dialogue between the Kenyan government and its citizens, particularly the youth, to address their concerns and incorporate their voices in future policy decisions.
“We extend our unwavering support to the Kenyan people and encourage the continued peaceful advocacy for their rights and freedoms,” it added.
Reaffirming its commitment to monitoring and supporting efforts to promote open and democratic societies in Africa, AGFCS called for the upholding of fundamental human rights, including the right to peaceful protest and freedom of expression, as essential components of a democratic society.
Other members of the coalition include Restorative Justice for Africa (REJA) Initiative, Centre for Community Empowerment and Poverty Eradication (CCEPE), Ogechi and Sam Ikeh Foundation (OSAIF), Dataphyte Foundation, Institutional and Sustainable Development foundation (ISDF), Beellahy Foundation and Centre for Peace Education, Building Blocks for Peace Foundation and Community Development.
