Group raises alarm over extra-judicial killings

A lobby group has condemned increased cases of extra-judicial killings, forced disappearances and abductions, which it claims are being executed by the police.  

Police Reforms Working Group (PRWG) now wants President Uhuru Kenyatta, Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang’i and Inspector General of Police Hillary Mutyambai to publicly condemn the killings.

In a statement yesterday, the group, which has also expressed concerns over increased cases of use of excessive force by law enforcers on youths, also wants the National Assembly’s Security Committee to submit a report outlining steps being taken to address the troubling increase in extra-judicial killings. According to the group, 157 people were killed last year with 10 still missing. 

Statement comes amid claims that an officer based in Mathare and Pangani, identified as Baraza, abducted and executed a Mathare youth.

Illegal arrest

“We are alarmed and utterly dismayed by the illegal arrest, detention and killing of Collins, a youth from Mathare in Nairobi County on April 29.

This is the latest killing of a Mathare youth allegedly by police,” said  Amnesty International Kenya Executive Director Houghton Irungu.

According to Amnesty International, the teen was apprehended on April 29 around 3pm after witnessing the murder of another teen, Dominic Kalema, in his neighbourhood.

“On Thursday April 29, MathareSJustice identified a Toyota Probox that is usually used by Baraza and his squad to detain and harm Mathare youth illegally,” added Houghton.

 In their details, PRWG said Collins was seen in a car parked in Pangani at about 5.41pm the same day, according to a Mathare-based lobby group.

Two other young men, Kelvin Irungu and a friend were arrested and detained by the same police crew shortly before 10pm. They are yet to be traced.