The Independent Policing Oversight Authority has been asked to carry out investigations into the killing of 25-year-old – Kevin Gitau, allegedly by police.
Gitau, according to Amnesty International-Kenya, was last seen alive on Monday at around 9pm outside a gas station on Juja Road where he was reportedly forced into a Toyota Probox suspected to be have been used by police.
His body was later found the following day at the City Mortuary, in the latest case of extra-judicial execution that risks watering down the ongoing police reforms.
Amnesty International Kenya Executive Director Irungu Houghton has called on Inspector General of Police Hillary Mutyambai to ensure those found culpable are brought to book.
“Every person accused of a crime should have their guilt or innocence determined by a fair and effective legal process. But the right to a fair trial is not just about protecting suspects and defendants. It also makes societies safer and stronger. Without fair trials, trust in justice and in government collapses,” Houghton said.
Gitau had on February reported to IPOA that a city killer cop had threatened his life but, Pangani and Huruma Police Stations refused to record his statement.
The lobby group is also probing five other cases suspected to be of extra-judicial killings within Nairobi.
“The new Inspector General of the National Police Service must ensure that all those linked to extra-judicial executions and unlawful killings are investigated and prosecuted, all evidence properly preserved, and witnesses protected to ensure the credibility of the investigations,” Houghton said.
During his swearing in, IG Mutyambai was categorical that he will reverse the trend of enforced disappearances and extra-judicial killings.
Last year alone, IPOA was probing more than 240 cases of extra-judicial killings across the country, with urban slum areas worst hit.
According to IMLU statistics, 822 people died from police bullets between 2013 and June 2018.
Of these, 58 happened between January and June this year.
