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Kenya Government Sued Over Alleged Killings, Human Rights Violations

Rael Ombuor

   NAIROBI - Four rights groups in Kenya are suing the government over
   alleged killings and human rights violations by members of Kenya's
   police force as they enforced a curfew to stop the spread of the
   coronavirus. The rights groups are seeking legal reforms and monetary
   compensation on behalf of victims.

   The rights groups, Amnesty International Kenya, International Justice
   Mission Kenya, Haki Africa and the Kituo cha Sheria, say police used
   the nighttime curfew to violate the rights of victims at a critical
   time.

   Annette Mbogoh,executive director of Kituo cha Sheria, also known as
   the Legal Advice Center, explained the decision to sue the government.

   "Within the pandemic is when government responsibility towards its
   people should be even higher than when things are just as normal," she
   said. "During this time, there was a much higher responsibility of the
   police to ensure that they protect as opposed to meting [out] violence
   against the citizenry, so we feel the issues brought in this petition
   are unique in that respect."

   The petition included demands for long-term legislative reform aimed at
   addressing cases of alleged police brutality in the country.

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