POLITICAL CANDIDATES AND SUPPORTERS MUST STOP RISING INCIDENTS OF VIOLENCE AT THE POLLING AND TALLYING STATIONS

PRESS STATEMENT

POLITICAL CANDIDATES AND SUPPORTERS MUST STOP

RISING INCIDENTS OF VIOLENCE AT THE POLLING AND TALLYING STATIONS

11TH AUGUST 2022, 13.00 (EAT)

The Police Reforms Working Group, an alliance of 21 human rights organizations, are deeply concerned by the sporadic acts of violence witnessed across the country over the last 48 hours. While the voting exercise was relatively peaceful, we are concerned by the targeted assault on both female and male voters, election observers, political candidates, and their supporters and intimidation of election monitors.

We warmly commend candidates who have conceded defeat and congratulated winning candidates. We urge them both, to call for national calm as we await the end of the tallying and transmission of the results. We also call on all voters to respect each other’s different political choices and safeguard the freedoms enshrined in our bill of rights.

We urge the National Police Service and the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions to collaborate and ensure speedy investigation, arrest, and prosecution of all who participate in acts of violence without fear or favour. We call on the Independent Policing Oversight Authority to ensure that all shootings by National Police Service Officers are swiftly investigated and acted upon.

All candidates must maintain high standards of leadership integrity as tallying and declaration of results continues. They and their supporters are reminded that all acts of intimidation, sexual or physical assault and murder are serious electoral offences under Article 81 and our laws. Further, there is no statute of limitations on election offences.

Lastly, we send our deepest sympathy to the victims’ families and wish all injured survivors a quick recovery. Let us maintain the relative calm and peace that prevailed in the period prior to Election Day as we wait for the official results and beyond. Let us also return to work and our normal lives.

 For more information and interviews, contact Mathias T. Kinyoda: Mob: +254723424803,

Email: mathias.kinyoda@amnesty.or.ke and Sarah Nyakio 0718097128, Email: [email protected]

Notes:

Over the last 48 hours, there have been sporadic acts of violence by candidates and their supporters including,

  1. The Women’s Elections Situation Room have documented violence against women in at least 200 polling stations.
  2. The fatal shooting of Brian Olunga in Bungoma County by Kimilili Constituency Member of National Assembly Didmus Barasa and the fatal stabbing of Peter Adina in Obunga, Kisumu County over differences in political opinion.
  3. The alleged violence at Marycliff Polling Station in Mvita Mombasa and the subsequent altercation between Mike Mbuvi Sonko and Hassan Joho. The tension between supporters of Mohamed Ali and Said Abdalla, experienced in the Nyali Constituency resulted in the firing of gunshots at the Makaburini stage in Kongowea.
  4. The shooting by police of a member of the public in Uasin Gishu during a confrontation between supporters of gubernatorial candidates Ezekiel Bundotich and Jonathan Bii.
  5. The members of the public caused mayhem in Nambale constituency, Busia County at Kisoko Girls Secondary but the police officers acted fast and barricaded the school
  6. The alleged sexual assault of an NYS Officer by a police officer in Bungoma.

The Police Reforms Working Group remains a neutral observer throughout this electoral period. We are an alliance of national and grassroots organizations committed to professional and rule of law policing. They include Amnesty International Kenya, Defenders Coalition, Katiba Institute, Kenya Human Rights Commission, The Kenyan Section of International Commission of Jurists (ICJ Kenya), International Justice Mission (IJM-K), HAKI Africa, Kariobangi Paralegal Network, Women Empowerment Link, Social Welfare Development Program, Independent Medical Legal Unit, Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA) Kenya, International Centre for Transitional Justice, Social Justice Centers Working Group, Usalama Reforms Forum, Transparency International – Kenya, Shield For Justice, Wangu Kanja Foundation, Peace Brigades International, Kenya’s for Peace, Truth and Justice, Constitution and Reform Education Consortium.