Legal Commentary

Alston statement on extra-judicial killings

By Ory Okolloh

Police Viol

KP readers, this statement by Philip Alston, the UN’s Special Rappoteur on Extra-Judicial Killings is a MUST READ.

Alston has just wrapped up his fact finding mission in Kenya.

Of course, the KNCHR has been on this issue for a while.

But it is still startling to see how pervasive the problem is ranging from killings because you pissed a cop in a bar to executions during the post-election violence.

Other key points:
- Wako being the epitome of impunity in Kenya
- The lack of an internal affairs unit in the Kenyan Police, so police who are culpable are expected to investigate themselves
- The shameless don’t care attitude of Ali
- The fact that the police have detailed reports of what was looted in Nyanza during the PEV but nothing on the 82 people who were killed by police bullets.

Why should you care?

Because these are the very people who are supposed to protect us. Next time the violence flares up, and at the rate Kenya is going, possibilities are it will. Will these people still be in charge?
Because these tactics are now being used to suppress peaceful protests (see my earlier posts this week).
Because, at the very least because the very next time you unknowingly pick a fight with a cop you stand a high chance of being “Mungiki’d”.

Full post as published by Kenyan Pundit on February 25, 2009 (boomark / email).