The Kenya National Human Rights Commission (KNHRC) on Monday faulted the National Police Service (NPS) for alleged brutality while handling a human rights defender who was instrumental in organising protests in Kisumu.
In a statement, KNHRC stated that Boniface Ogutu, the convener of the Kisumu Peace and Justice Center, was arrested on July 23.
Following his arrest, Ogutu was reportedly taken to Kondele Police Station, where the officer in charge refused to detain him.
However, the human rights organisation reported that the activist was transferred to Vihiga Police station where he was allegedly tortured by four officers the human rights group believe to be attached to the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI).
“The officers covered his head and began torturing him, recording the abuse on their phones. They punched and strangled Ogutu, pierced his index finger, hit his head multiple times, and struck his nose, causing him to bleed and suffer soft tissue injuries,” stated KNHCR.
Further, KNHRC stated that aside from the torture orchestrated on Ogutu, his sim cards were swapped by the authorities.
“The officers demanded Ogutu reveal his phone password and cease mobilising for peaceful protests, appearing to follow orders to suppress anti-government demonstrations,” stated the commission.
Further, the organisation has maintained that on July 24, the DCI officers brought Ogutu to court, charging him with obstruction. The commission maintained that this was a trumped-up charge.
However, the magistrate in charge of the case ordered that he be taken to the hospital before any plea was entered.
The Commission continued to push for the accountability. In particular, the body wants all police officers found culpable of breaking the law while quelling protests to face the full force of the law. It also wants investigations into such cases expedited.
This comes even after the Head of State faulted the organisation over what he believes to be sharing of inaccurate data on Kenyans who died during the protests.
In a televised interview at State House on June 30, the Head of State refuted the numbers shared by the commission and instead referenced government data which he claimed showed that only 19 had died.
