Amnesty Kenya Gazette: October 2024 Issue

September was a powerful month of reflection, resilience, and action as we continued to stand together for human rights and accountability. From pivotal report launches to critical appeals for justice, our shared commitment to advocating for a fair and just society remains unshaken. Let’s recap the impactful events and milestones that shaped this month!

In this issue:

#OccupyParliamentRevisited

After three months of research and investigations in the events at Parliament on June 25th during the #OccupyParliament protest, Today marks three months since the June 25 protest, during which over 12,000 people signed an Amnesty International petition calling for a Judicial Commission of Inquiry and accountability for the deaths and injuries resulting from the unlawful police use of force against protesters in Kenya.

Amnesty International Kenya and five other human rights, legal, and medical associations conducted extensive investigations, interviewing 23 eyewitnesses, lawyers, and medical professionals while analysing 45 videos and 100 photographs taken that day. Our findings reveal that Kenyan police unlawfully used both lethal and less-lethal weapons, including tear gas, water cannons, and batons, in violation of international human rights standards. The excessive use of force resulted in the deaths of at least six people and injuries to hundreds more.

Despite writing to the Ministry of Interior, the Attorney General, the Inspector General of Police, and the Independent Policing and Oversight Authority with our findings, we have yet to receive any feedback from the government.

The June 25 protest was the largest of many held across the country between June and August, notable for being the first time protesters accessed parliament in response to the passing of the Finance Bill 2024. This report sheds light on the brutal and disproportionate response from Kenyan police, as well as the failure to protect protesters’ rights.

Click on the button below to read the full extended press release for more details.

AIK Perception Study: Ready or Not? Citizen’s Perspective on Maisha Namba

September 2024 also saw the release of our *Ready or not? Citizen’s Perspectives on Maisha Namba, a perception study conducted to assess Kenyan citizens’ views, attitudes, and concerns regarding the Digital ID and Maisha Namba. We engaged with representatives from citizen groups, journalists, religious leaders, human rights defenders, and administrative leaders across nine counties—Kwale, Mombasa, Tana River, Nairobi, Nakuru, Turkana, Garissa, Kilifi, and Kisumu.

This report builds on the *Digital ID in Kenya: An Advisory Paper on Implementation of a Rights Respecting Digital ID Regime in Kenya* released in January 2024, which provided expert insights into the next steps and challenges of implementing Universal Personal Identifiers (UPI) and digital ID in Kenya.

Key findings from the Ready or not? study include:

  • Misinformation and Misconceptions: A significant gap in public awareness, particularly in Kiswahili, leaves many Kenyans misinformed about the purpose and implications of Maisha Namba.
  • Accessibility: Ensuring that digital ID is financially accessible to all citizens is crucial for inclusivity.
  • Data Privacy: Strong data protection measures are essential to build public trust as Maisha Namba is rolled out.
  • Inclusivity: For Maisha Namba to be transformative, it must be designed to accommodate all citizens, regardless of socioeconomic status, physical abilities, or location.
  • Bridging the Digital Divide: Substantial investment in infrastructure and policies is needed to ensure everyone can participate in Kenya’s digital future.
  • Digital Literacy: Empowering citizens through a robust digital literacy program is key to maximising the benefits of the digital ID system.
  • Human Rights Focus: The government must prioritise human rights, data protection, and inclusion in the implementation process.

This study sheds light on the critical areas that must be addressed to ensure Maisha Namba fosters a more inclusive digital future for all Kenyans.

Click on the button below to learn more:

Seeking Justice for Rebecca Cheptegei and Yassin Moyo

The brutal murder of Olympic runner Rebecca Cheptegei by her former partner has reignited our urgent call for stronger action against femicide in Kenya. Rebecca, a 33-year-old Ugandan, tragically succumbed to her injuries days after being doused in petrol and set on fire by her ex-boyfriend in Trans Nzoia County. This horrific act is part of a disturbing pattern, as Kenya continues to face some of the highest rates of violence against women in Africa.

We are relentless in our demand for Parliament to criminalize femicide as a distinct crime and for the immediate establishment of a dedicated femicide investigation unit within the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI). These steps are essential to addressing the growing crisis and ensuring justice for victims like Rebecca.

In other news, the long-awaited murder trial for Yassin Moyo has finally begun, four years after the teenager was fatally shot while standing on his balcony in Mathare on March 30th, 2020. Six witnesses have testified in the ongoing trial of police officer Duncan Ndiema, known as Champe, who is charged with Yassin’s killing. It was heart-wrenching to hear witnesses recount the moment Yassin cried out to his mother that he had been shot, and their frantic but unsuccessful attempts to save him.

The case is set for further hearings on May 29, July 8, 15, and 24 of next year, and we will continue to seek justice for Yassin and his family, standing alongside all victims of police brutality.

Misuse of Less Lethal Weapons by the Police

We are deeply alarmed by the increasing misuse of less lethal weapons by the police, including batons and teargas, against innocent Kenyans. The brutal attack on a Multimedia University student, Trevor Mathenge Mureithi, on 17th September 2024, where police officers callously lobbed a teargas canister at the injured student at close range, is a stark reminder of the growing trend of police intentionally violating human rights laws. These laws mandate strict control over the use of less lethal weapons, including chemical irritants, and require officers to prevent unnecessary or arbitrary harm.

It’s critical to note that launching teargas at close range can lead to severe injuries, concussions, and, in extreme cases, death. Alongside the Police Reforms Working Group and the Law Society of Kenya, we have written to the Speaker of the National Assembly, urging the Justice and Legal Affairs Committee to summon Inspector General of Police Douglas Kanja. We demand a full account of the operation at Multimedia University, including the commands given, the identities of the officers seen assaulting the student, and whether disciplinary action has been taken or their files referred to IPOA.

We strongly reiterate our call for all police officers to refrain from using batons and other lethal crowd control weapons to suppress the public’s right to protest. Police must adhere to the principles of necessity, proportionality, and legality, ensuring their actions do not inflict more harm than the situations they are meant to control. They are accountable for every strike and every act and must be held to the highest standards of human rights protection.

Kenyan police killed at least 33 people, possibly as many as 50, and injured hundreds more in some parts of the capital Nairobi in response to protests following the August 8, 2017 elections. Since then members of the opposition have been holding demos against the Independence Electoral and Boundaries Commission making demands for reforms before the re-run of the presidential election on 26 October 2017.
We’ve Moved to a New Office

We’re excited to announce our relocation to a new office at 197 Lenana Road, 1st Floor. This fresh space brings renewed energy and opportunity, and we look forward to hosting more impactful conversations on human rights and driving change from this dynamic new location!.

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