MOMBASA—At least 300 people have been killed by the police after they were suspected of being members of a terror group, a police watchdog and a human rights body have revealed.
The Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) and the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights (KNCHR)said in a joint report that Kenya was among the countries that are largely threatened by militants groups due the high number of returnees from militant infested countries.
The report was revealed at a forum in Kwale where an inquest was launched.
KNCHR said most of the killings are perpetuated by the police and the returnees.
“What is emerging is that the rampant killings are perpetrated by police or those that the public suspect to be returnees who refuse to be integrated,” the right group’s vice chairperson George Morara said at the forum.
He added, “We have lost 300 Kenyans in the past three years largely due to insecurity. This is not good news as we approach elections. We hope that as we approach next year’s elections, there will be measures in place to make sure we do not lose more people.”
IPOA challenged the police to change tact in the fight against terror, saying the dynamics of crime fight has changed. He added that the public would have to be incorporated if the war has to be won against the militants.
“Police need to up their game; they cannot continue suspecting everyone but need to work within the law. Community policing committees are not working due to lack of trust between police and public,” Tom Kagwe, a commissioner with IPOA said at the forum.
Officials from the National Police Service reported that the police-public cooperation was low due to the rampant killing and victimisation in the affected area.
