Activist Japheth Moroko seen here after being battered by the police/COURTESY
NAIROBI, Kenya, May 17 – Nairobi Governor Evans Kidero is calling for the prosecution of police officers caught on camera using extreme force against protestors during Monday’s demonstration by the CORD coalition for the removal of Commissioners at the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission.
Kidero pointed out that such violence undermines the gains made by Nairobi as the city to invest, work and live in.
He indicated that investors thrive in an environment where they have confidence that the rule of law will be upheld and their property will not be looted or destroyed.
“Investors thrive in an environment where they have confidence that the rule of law will be upheld and their properties will not be looted or destroyed. Everything should be done to ensure this confidence is not eroded as the city also prepares to host the second United Nations Environment Assembly and UNCTAD/TICAD conferences,” he stated.
He said that the government needs to send clear instructions to the police to stop the excessive use of force and prosecute those who have used extreme force against protestors.
“This was totally uncalled for, the police are expected to protect wananchi and nothing can justify the physical attacks on peaceful demonstrators who were expressing themselves in a manner allowed by the Kenyan constitution,” he said.
“The Kenyan government must respect the right to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly in Kenya.”
There has been uproar over a video that shows police officers brutally beating up a protestor even when he had fallen down and appeared motionless.
During the demonstrations, at least 15 supporters of CORD were arrested after police dispersed their protest against Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission.
READ: 15 CORD supporters arrested as police disperse anti IEBC demo
Several other protesters also sustained injuries during the demonstration outside the IEBC offices at Anniversary Towers on the University Way.
Police lobbed tear gas canisters and used water cannon to break up the sit-in just as Senator James Orengo had started addressing them.
CORD principals Raila Odinga, Kalonzo Musyoka and Moses Wetangula were seated on the tarmac on University Way listening to Orengo when tear gas engulfed them.
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