Police Use Excessive Force In Kenya-42 Dead

Contradicting Statements Kenya Autopsy reports from Kenya showed discrepancies in the deaths of protesters during anti-government demonstrations in June and July, with findings contradicting police records, sparking renewed scrutiny of law enforcement practices and allegations of systematic cover-ups, Reuters reported Monday. Recent reports collected by the newswire showed that police would record deaths inaccurately in morgue logbooks, often attributing them to “road accidents” or “mob justice” despite evidence of police involvement. In one case, 19-year-old Charles Owino was recorded by police as a road accident victim, but an autopsy confirmed he died from a gunshot wound to the head during protests in the district of Kitengela on July 16. Similarly, Shaquille Obienge, 21, was logged as another road accident fatality, but the government’s autopsy revealed he was shot in the neck. Morgue records also showed further inconsistencies: Between late June and September, only nine gunshot deaths were recorded, despite evidence of police shootings during protests. In contrast, deaths attributed to “mob justice” and “drownings” surged to 94, compared with 59 during the same period in the previous year. Amnesty International and other rights groups suspect these classifications are part of a cover-up to mask the extent of police violence. The protests – dubbed the “Gen-Z protests” due to their youthful demographic – erupted in response to tax hikes and alleged corruption in government. Officials said the demonstrations left at least 42 people dead, with rights groups alleging that police used excessive force, including live ammunition. The Kenya National Commission on Human Rights reported 82 enforced disappearances between June and December, with 29 individuals still unaccounted for. Among the missing are young protesters and politically active individuals, some allegedly targeted by a covert police unit linked to the Directorate of Criminal Investigations. In a New Year’s address, President William Ruto acknowledged “instances of excessive and extrajudicial actions” by security personnel – but stopped short of detailing accountability measures, Africanews wrote. Meanwhile, families of victims have called for justice, as human rights organizations demand independent investigations. With mounting pressure on Kenyan authorities to address police misconduct and ensure accountability, the crisis has underscored a deepening mistrust between citizens and law enforcement, further inflamed by economic challenges and public discontent with governance.