Over five people have so far succumbed to injuries caused by beating from police officers who are enforcing the 7 pm – 5 am presidential curfew which was supposed to prevent casualties from the Coronavirus (COVID-19) which has so far only claimed one life in the country.
The latest is the death of a night guard at Maungu Lorry Park in Voi sub-county. Investigations are underway after allegations emerged that the victim succumbed to injuries arising from a brutal beating by police officers Friday night. The body of the victim, only identified as Kazungu, was recovered Monday evening by neighbours at his rented room in Maungu shopping centre along Nairobi-Mombasa Highway.
Residents claimed that Kazungu was assaulted by a police officer after he was found outside at the lorry park.
As a night guard, his work entailed patrolling the fenced park to guard shops and trailers that parked in the facility at night.
A family in Kwale is also demanding justice following the death of Khamisi Juma bega, a bodaboda operator, whom they claim was beaten to death by police. According to them, 49-year-old Khamisi was also beaten by police officers while taking a pregnant woman to the hospital.
Adding to the list of fatalities, A 13-year-old boy, Yassin Hussein Moyo was killed by a stray bullet alleged to be from a police officer at Kiamaiko in Nairobi county on Monday night. It is reported that the boy was hit on a balcony while he was trying to catch a glimpse of the officers who were enforcing the nationwide curfew at around 8 pm.
A former General Service Unit officer is also said to have succumbed to injuries sustained in a beating by police officers enforcing the curfew in Matuga Sub-county.
Elsewhere in Kosele trading centre, Rachuonyo South Sub-county, another Boda Boda rider was assaulted by police officers at about 8 pm on Friday. He died yesterday at Rachuonyo South Sub-County Hospital in Oyugis town.
The National Police Service, under pressure from the public, civil society groups, religious and political leaders has thrown the rogue officers under the bus, about a dozen officers have been interdicted as the Internal Affairs Unit (IAU) takes up investigations on incidents last Friday that caused a public uproar. The Independent Policing Oversight Authority (Ipoa) is also investigating.
Among the officers who have been interdicted is the policeman who was caught on camera clobbering a Nation Media Group photojournalist in Mombasa last Friday, hours before the curfew began.
On Wednesday, President Uhuru Kenyatta apologised to victims. Speaking via live video feed to the first two Kenyans to have been cured of the virus, he regretted the manner in which police officers enforced restrictions on movements and public gatherings.
“I know especially when we introduced the curfew in the initial stages there were some challenges. I want to apologise to Kenyans for the excesses that may have happened,” said President Kenyatta.
