Latest news with #Ipoa
BBC News
7 days ago
- Politics
- BBC News
Kenya protests: IPOA police watchdog blames deaths on 'disproportionate force'
Kenya's police watchdog has accused officers of using "disproportionate force" to quell a recent series of protests during which 65 people a report released on Thursday, the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (Ipoa) linked most of the deaths to actions by the also highlighted the role of opportunists who infiltrated the protests – described as "goons" – who "undermined the principles of peaceful assembly".Over the past six weeks, there have been four separate days of demonstrations which were called over police brutality and anger at government policies. The first in the capital, Nairobi – on 12 June – was "largely peaceful", the Ipoa report says. It followed the death in custody of a young teacher and blogger, Albert Ojwang, which the police initially said was a result of self-inflicted then three police officers have been charged with his murder. Why the death of a blogger has put Kenya's police on trialIs William Ruto the most disliked president in Kenya's history?Mother mourns 'beautiful' 12-year-old shot while watching TV during Kenya protests A second protest on 17 June led to the shooting at point-blank range of one civilian, street vendor Boniface Kariuki, who later died. An officer has been charged in connection with the on 23 June, a protest was called to mark a year since deadly anti-government demonstrations broke out over tax rises, which were later reversed. The Ipoa report says that 23 people died in different parts of the country on that fourth day – 7 July – saw the biggest loss of life with 41 people the four days, the watchdog also documented 342 injuries to civilians and 171 injuries to police, along with looting and vandalism targeting businesses, police stations and government Ipoa says its monitors saw "significant breaches of constitutional policing standards, including use of disproportionate force, lack of professionalism, and failure to uphold public safety and rights".Responding to the violence in the wake of the 7 July demonstrations, President William Ruto ordered police to shoot protesters targeting businesses in the legs, ensuring they were incapacitated but not killed."Anyone caught burning another person's business or property should be shot in the leg, hospitalised, and later taken to court. Don't kill them, but ensure their legs are broken," the president June, Interior Minister Kipchumba Murkomen denied the police had used excessive force and described the protests as "terrorism disguised as dissent" and an "unconstitutional attempt" to change the groups have condemned the government's response to the protests, accusing the authorities of allowing and at times encouraging the use of deadly force against demonstrators. You may also be interested in: BBC identifies security forces who shot Kenya anti-tax protestersWhy Kenya's president has so many nicknamesFour Kenyan police officers charged over baby's killing as others freedNew faces of protest - Kenya's Gen Z anti-tax revolutionaries Go to for more news from the African us on Twitter @BBCAfrica, on Facebook at BBC Africa or on Instagram at bbcafrica
Yahoo
05-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Four Kenyan police officers charged over baby's killing as others freed
Four Kenyan police officers have been charged with the murder of a six-month-old baby nearly eight years ago. Eight other officers who had originally also been accused alongside the four have had the charges against them dropped by the public prosecutor, sparking criticism. The case relates to baby Samatha Pendo, who was fatally hit in 2017 as police were deployed to quell violence linked to post-election protests in the western city of Kisumu. On Monday, the four officers who are still accused denied multiple charges including murder as a crime against humanity. They also pleaded not guilty to other charges of torture and rape committed against civilians. But a number of human rights groups, including Amnesty International, say the charge sheet "omits senior officers who held overall command responsibility during the operations that saw the deaths, rape and injuries of no less than 60 Kenyans". They have also expressed concern over the prosecutor's office move to name the victims and witnesses which it said could expose them to harm and reprisals. Baby Pendo - as she became known - died after being hit on the head, which caused a national outrage and became a symbol of the police brutality during the 2017 unrest. The public prosecutor at the time initiated a public inquest. After the inquest found the police culpable, the prosecutor ordered further investigations into other cases resulting from the police operation. But none of the accused had until now entered a plea amid repeated delays in court, which sparked calls for justice and accountability. Baby Pendo's mum, Lensa Achieng, has told the BBC that she is hopeful for justice and is pleased that "we have a case now". She said the journey had not been easy "but as the family of Baby Pendo at least we are going somewhere... they are taking a bold step to take the case to another level. "It's just our prayer for us to find justice for our daughter so that whatever happened to us does not happen to another parent." Rights groups have continued to criticise the delays, blaming numerous attempts to defer or stall court proceedings. They say the charges were amended without the involvement of the investigating agency, the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (Ipoa). Ipoa has said it does not know the rationale used by the prosecutor. There has been little movement since a new prosecutor took over in 2023, and this year the head of Amnesty Kenya, Irungu Houghton, told the BBC that there seemed to be "an unwillingness to try to prosecute this case". Amnesty and other rights groups are now calling on the judiciary to ensure the cases against the four officers are not delayed. Additional reporting by Gladys Kigo Pressure mounts to probe Kenya police and army after BBC exposé BBC identifies security forces who shot Kenya anti-tax protesters Batons, tear gas, live fire - Kenyans face police brutality WATCH: Inside the world of Kenya's 'killer cop' Go to for more news from the African continent. Follow us on Twitter @BBCAfrica, on Facebook at BBC Africa or on Instagram at bbcafrica Africa Daily Focus on Africa
Yahoo
05-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Four Kenyan police officers charged over baby's killing as others freed
Four Kenyan police officers have been charged with the murder of a six-month-old baby nearly eight years ago. Eight other officers who had originally also been accused alongside the four have had the charges against them dropped by the public prosecutor, sparking criticism. The case relates to baby Samatha Pendo, who was fatally hit in 2017 as police were deployed to quell violence linked to post-election protests in the western city of Kisumu. On Monday, the four officers who are still accused denied multiple charges including murder as a crime against humanity. They also pleaded not guilty to other charges of torture and rape committed against civilians. But a number of human rights groups, including Amnesty International, say the charge sheet "omits senior officers who held overall command responsibility during the operations that saw the deaths, rape and injuries of no less than 60 Kenyans". They have also expressed concern over the prosecutors' office move to name the victims and witnesses which it said could expose them to harm and reprisals. Baby Pendo - as she became known - died after being hit on the head, which caused a national outrage and became a symbol of the police brutality during the 2017 unrest. The public prosecutor at the time initiated a public inquest. After the inquest found the police culpable, the prosecutor ordered further investigations into other cases resulting from the police operation. But none of the accused had until now entered a plea amid repeated delays in court, which sparked calls for justice and accountability. Baby Pendo's mum, Lensa Achieng, has told the BBC that she is hopeful for justice and is pleased that "we have a case now". She said the journey had not been easy "but as the family of Baby Pendo at least we are going somewhere... they are taking a bold step to take the case to another level. "It's just our prayer for us to find justice for our daughter so that whatever happened to us does not happen to another parent." Rights groups have continued to criticise the delays, blaming numerous attempts to defer or stall court proceedings. They say the charges were amended without the involvement of the investigating agency, the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (Ipoa). Ipoa has said it does not know the rationale used by the prosecutor. There has been little movement since a new prosecutor took over in 2023, and this year the head of Amnesty Kenya, Irungu Houghton, told the BBC that there seemed to be "an unwillingness to try to prosecute this case". Amnesty and other rights groups are now calling on the judiciary to ensure the cases against the four officers are not delayed. Additional reporting by Gladys Kigo Pressure mounts to probe Kenya police and army after BBC exposé BBC identifies security forces who shot Kenya anti-tax protesters Batons, tear gas, live fire - Kenyans face police brutality WATCH: Inside the world of Kenya's 'killer cop' Go to for more news from the African continent. Follow us on Twitter @BBCAfrica, on Facebook at BBC Africa or on Instagram at bbcafrica Africa Daily Focus on Africa
BBC News
05-05-2025
- Politics
- BBC News
Baby Samantha Pendo: Four Kenyan police officers charged over killing as others freed
Four Kenyan police officers have been charged with the murder of a six-month-old baby nearly eight years other officers who had originally also been accused alongside the four have had the charges against them dropped by the public prosecutor, sparking case relates to baby Samatha Pendo, who was fatally hit in 2017 as police were deployed to quell violence linked to post-election protests in the western city of Monday, the four officers who are still accused denied multiple charges including murder as a crime against humanity. They also pleaded not guilty to other charges of torture and rape committed against a number of human rights groups, including Amnesty International, say the charge sheet "omits senior officers who held overall command responsibility during the operations that saw the deaths, rape and injuries of no less than 60 Kenyans".They have also expressed concern over the prosecutors' office move to name the victims and witnesses which it said could expose them to harm and Pendo - as she became known - died after being hit on the head, which caused a national outrage and became a symbol of the police brutality during the 2017 public prosecutor at the time initiated a public the inquest found the police culpable, the prosecutor ordered further investigations into other cases resulting from the police none of the accused had until now entered a plea amid repeated delays in court, which sparked calls for justice and Pendo's mum, Lensa Achieng, has told the BBC that she is hopeful for justice and is pleased that "we have a case now".She said the journey had not been easy "but as the family of Baby Pendo at least we are going somewhere... they are taking a bold step to take the case to another level."It's just our prayer for us to find justice for our daughter so that whatever happened to us does not happen to another parent."Rights groups have continued to criticise the delays, blaming numerous attempts to defer or stall court say the charges were amended without the involvement of the investigating agency, the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (Ipoa). Ipoa has said it does not know the rationale used by the has been little movement since a new prosecutor took over in 2023, and this year the head of Amnesty Kenya, Irungu Houghton, told the BBC that there seemed to be "an unwillingness to try to prosecute this case".Amnesty and other rights groups are now calling on the judiciary to ensure the cases against the four officers are not reporting by Gladys Kigo You may also be interested in: Pressure mounts to probe Kenya police and army after BBC exposéBBC identifies security forces who shot Kenya anti-tax protestersBatons, tear gas, live fire - Kenyans face police brutalityWATCH: Inside the world of Kenya's 'killer cop' Go to for more news from the African us on Twitter @BBCAfrica, on Facebook at BBC Africa or on Instagram at bbcafrica
