The abuse of power by the Kenya Police service has been an ongoing debate for a long time due to the series of cases reported locally and successfully prosecuted. Misconduct by the National Police Service has included arbitrary arrests, harassment, torture, enforced disappearances (EDs), extrajudicial executions (EJE) and excessive use of force during peaceful demonstrations.

The Kenya Police Service was envisioned to be citizen-centric in the way it handles complaints from the public. Kenya is bound by the U.N Principles on the Use of Force and Firearms including the National Police Service Act.

Freedom of expression, rights to life and peaceful assembly are all fundamental human rights guaranteed under the country’s Constitution as well as international human rights treaties to which Kenya is bound. Additionally Kenya is a signatory to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, the African Charter on Human and People’s Rights.

According to Missing Voices, a campaign group focused on extrajudicial killings in Kenya, there have been 1,264 deaths at the hands of police since it began collecting data in 2017. 

The use of lethal force and teargas must be proportional to the seriousness of the offence and only be used to minimize the risk of harm to other persons. In 2023 Human Rights Watch and Amnesty Kenya have documented about 30 cases of gunshot injuries in Kisumu and Nairobi all attributed to the series of ongoing demonstrations.

This petition draws attention to police brutality which has been a significant problem in Kenya. We call upon:

1. The Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) and The Internal Affairs Unit (IAU) to ensure that all ongoing cases of officers accused of acting extra-legally are expeditiously investigated and prosecuted.
2. The Office of The Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) actively takes up all cases of citizens who have been brutalized by the police and is made cognisant that despite the reforms these acts of brutality continue unabated.
3. The Ministry of Interior and Coordination of National Government and the Office of the Inspector-General address systemic issues that enable this brutality by the police service towards citizens and ensure that the National Police Service upholds and respects the rule of law and human rights.

Sign this petition and demand an end to police brutality.

Note: Change.org relies solely on the support of people like you. Your regular monthly financial contributions will secure the future of Change.org Kenya. That's why it's so important. You can click here to start your monthly contribution. Thank you in advance