Police killed at least 10 people and indiscriminately shot at unarmed protestors including those who had surrendered in Kisumu and Kisii counties during the anti-government demonstrations staged by the Azimio Coalition, a joint statement by three human rights groups shows.
According to the statement issued by Amnesty International Kenya, Law Society of Kenya (LSK) and the Kenya Medical Association on Friday, at least 107 cases of police assault were attended to in various health facilities with 47 of those being gunshot wounds.
As per the statement, in once incident, an unarmed protestor who served as an eyewitness in an arson incident was shot and killed by a police officer.
Conversely, the right groups observed that some of the victims were bystanders who were not involved in the protests.
"We are deeply concerned to note that the preliminary findings conclude that there was indeed the use of excessive force by police meted on protestors during the 19-21 July protests.
"The preliminary findings indicate that excessive force on demonstrators has been consistent since the anti-government protests began on 20 March 2023," the statement read.
The human rights groups expressed concerns over findings indicating an alarming pattern of police deploying reckless tactics including detaining protestors beyond the 24 hours stipulated in the constitution.
"We strongly condemn attacks on medical facilities, including lobbying teargas in medical facilities, ambulances and attacks on healthcare workers and journalists.
"We call on the state to develop guidelines on offering safe passage and protection of emergency services providers during protests. We cannot be a nation that attacks its doctors," said Simon Kigondu, President of the Kenya Medical Association in the statement.
The groups also lobbied for the formation of a parliamentary commission of inquiry to investigate the instructions given to police officers across the affected counties.
Amnesty Kenya, LSK and KMA also want the commission to investigate the use of non-uniformed and non-commissioned officers, names of police officers hurt or killed during the protests and any instance by police officers failing to inform the Independent Policing and Oversight Authority (IPOA) of any fatal exchanges during the demos.
The groups also want the commission to investigate whether there was any disciplinary action taken against police officers who violated their standing orders.
"IPOA should urgently complete investigations for the ODPP to hold individual officers culpable and commanding officers who gave them the instructions," the statement read.
Conclusively, the human rights groups called for the release of all people who were arrested during the demos.
The groups also called on the bipartisan Kenya Kwanza and Azimio talks team to revisit the police brutality cases and hold those in police in command responsible.
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