The Kenya National Commission on Human Rights (KNCHR) on Tuesday called on President William Ruto to uphold the rule of law and call for a halt to alleged police brutalities.
In a statement, the Commission urged the Head of State to issue a directive restraining the deployed officers from harming peaceful protesters.
According to KNCHR, the president should honour his commitment to respecting the rule of law by issuing a zero-tolerance directive on human rights violations.
The Commission also called on the acting Inspector General of Police, Douglas Kaja to commence a quick probe into deaths of about 50 Kenyans during the recent anti-government demonstrations.
Acting IG Kanja was urged to work handily with the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) and the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) and bring to book the perpetrators of the brutalities.
The lobby group encouraged the relevant security urgencies to conduct the investigations in a transparent and accountable manner by providing regular updates.
According to the human rights commission, it had recorded about 50 deaths, 403 injuries and 59 abductions during the recent nationwide demonstrations.
The Commission also demanded the immediate and unconditional release of all the illegally detained individuals arrested during the anti-government protests.
“Those found culpable whether civilian or security agent should be charged. In addition, the Commission shall also pursue command responsibility for all documented instances of police brutality and excesses,” the commission noted in a statement.
KNCHR revealed it had already filed a petition in court seeking accountability for missing and abducted people.
Similarly, the Commission also demanded thorough forensic investigations into the deaths of Kenyans whose bodies were retrieved from a dumpsite in the Kware area of Nairobi.
"The investigations should be per the Minnesota Protocol which aims to protect the right to life by promoting the effective investigation of potentially unlawful death or suspected enforced disappearance," KNCHR noted.
"Any person who suspects that their kin might be among the retrieved to present themselves to the pathologists for DNA tests, as such linkages will provide valuable insights into the deaths."
