At least 15 people have been killed in Kenya by police during the nationwide dusk-to-dawn curfew, aimed at curbing the spread of coronavirus, a report by the country’s Independent Police Oversight Authority (IPOA) says.
Six police officers will now be charged with murder and assault, for their alleged involvement in shootings while enforcing the restrictions, it says.
A separate report by the UN human rights office has documented widespread police violence in 182 communities across the country, including beating, use of live ammunition and tear gas, sexual violence, and damage to property.
The highest number of incidents relating to excessive use of force by police were documented in the capital, Nairobi.
Hussein Moyo’s 13-year-old son, Yassin, was allegedly shot in the stomach by police in Nairobi on 28 March, just a day after the dusk-to-dawn curfew was implemented in a bid to prevent the spread of coronavirus.
He had been standing together with his family on their third-floor balcony watching police storm the neighbourhood in search of people who were not abiding by the curfew.
Yassin’s case is one of those confirmed by the police oversight authority and now the director of public prosecutions has approved the arrest and prosecution of a police officer.
Police spokesperson Charles Owino told the BBC the findings in the IPOA report were simply allegations and complaints filed by the public and every case mentioned would need to be investigated.
