Security agencies in Kenya are allegedly using extremely unorthodox measures in their fight against terrorism, which have seen over 100 people disappear, several killed and scores of others tortured.
The officers are said to be using arbitrary arrests, extortion, illegal detention, torture, killings and disappearances to push their agenda in the crackdown on terrorism and general insecurity in the country.
According to the findings of a report by the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights (KNCHR), over 120 cases of atrocious human rights violations, that include 25 extrajudicial killings and 81 enforced disappearances have been noted.
The KNCHR claimed to have heard of terror suspects being rounded up and detained for different periods of time in exceedingly overcrowded, inhumane and degrading conditions.
The organization further pointed out that torture methods such as, water boarding, genital mutilation, electrical shock, denial of sleep, stinging by ants and mock executions were being used on terror suspects.
KNCHR noted that these measures were harmful and an infraction of human rights.
Preliminary evidence by the Commission reportedly confirmed the existence of suspicious graves in Wajir County, Lanbib location which contained remains of dead bodies with unexplainable circumstances of death.
In a press statement released on Tuesday, the Commission, urged the government to look into the findings highlighted in the report to ensure that the security agencies were closely monitored.
The Commission, however, emphasized that their investigations were being inhibited by various factors including intimidation of victims and witnesses who are skeptical of disclosing important information.
The investigations by the human rights body, were carried out mainly in Nairobi, Wajir, Mandera, Garissa, Lamu, Tana River, Kwale, Kilifi and Mombasa counties.
