Interior and National Administration Cabinet Secretary (CS) Kithure Kindiki has defended the National Police Service (NPS) regarding the deaths of protesters during the June 25, 2024 demonstrations, which saw the invasion of Parliament in Nairobi.
Speaking before the National Assembly Security Committee on Thursday September 26, 2024, Kindiki emphasized that it is unfair to fully blame police officers for the fatalities without concrete evidence.
He stated, drawing on his legal experience, that: “The fact someone was shot doesn’t conclusively prove it was by a police officer.”
Kindiki also suggested that the assumption often unfairly leans towards police accountability in such incidents.
Justification for Use of Force
At the same time, Kindiki justified use of excess force by police officers during the protests, arguing it was essential to safeguard critical national institutions, including Parliament.
He emphasized that failure to act might have led to the collapse of constitutional order, putting the country at risk:
“If we hadn’t used force, we’d be talking about a different Kenya today.”
Clarification on Death Toll
Addressing reports about the deaths that occurred during the anti-government protests between June and August 2024, Kindiki confirmed the fatalities of 42 Kenyans, disputing higher figures provided by Amnesty International and various human rights groups, which placed the number at 61.
He noted that a report accounting for 30 of the deaths was available, while he requested 24 hours to clarify the details surrounding the remaining 12 cases.
Amnesty International’s Findings
Amnesty International’s report, based on interviews with 23 eyewitnesses and analysis of 45 videos and over 100 photographs, pointed to a death toll of 61.
The report also highlighted 67 cases of enforced disappearances in 2024, with 27 cases remaining unresolved.
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