Nairobi, 26 June 2025: Yesterday’s violence has claimed at least 16 lives and led to 400 injuries as of 9 pm last night. We have received reports that some police officers are allegedly misadvising victims’ families to bury their loved ones without a postmortem.
Amnesty International Kenya offers this advisory for those injured and witnesses to an injury or fatality. Please share this widely.
As an injured person, you have a right to:
- Retain a copy of all your medical notes and reports, including X-ray, CT and other scans.
- Have your injuries treated, photographed and video-ed and documented as medical evidence.
- Report the incident at your nearest police station and obtain a medico–legal report form (P3), which should be completed by the officer handling the case. Afterwards, have a registered medical officer review and complete their section of the report.
In case of a fatality of someone you know, you have the right to;
- know where your loved one is;
- identify the body;
- have them stored in a known mortuary facility accessible by the public;
- have them properly stored in well-refrigerated conditions;
- get an independent expert such as a forensic pathologist of your choice;
- ensure that they undergo a forensic death investigation known as a postmortem;
- know the cause of death;
- be issued with a copy of the postmortem report (Form 23 A) and relevant additional information such as contemporaneous notes, photographs, inter alia;
- a peer review of the postmortem report (Form 23 A) and all related information by another or other forensic medical and scientific experts.
Do not bury any person without a post-mortem examination and the presence of an independent pathologist. Independent pathologists can be secured by calling the following numbers: Independent Medico-Legal Unit 0706162795 or 0800721401(toll-free)
Please share this widely.
Signed
Irungu Houghton
Amnesty International Section Director
Amnesty International Kenya helpline 0759464346