Government accused of using excessive force to fight extremism in North Eastern

Police brutality caught on camera. (Photo courtesy)

The government has been accused of using excessive force that violates the human rights in dealing with violent extremism in North Eastern Kenya by Human rights defenders in Garissa.

Officials from the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights (KNCHR) and human rights defenders in Garissa on Sunday said that, during the last two years, they received over 100 cases of human rights violation in North Eastern.

The said most of the cases were reported immediately after the deadly Garissa University College attack that happened on 2^nd April, 2015. It claimed more than 140 people’s lives.

They revealed this during international Human rights day that is worldwide marked on 10^th of every December.

Victims of this excessive force include madrassa teachers, clerics and their relatives, M-Pesa dealers and business people.

Mr.Mukhtar Dahi, head of Garissa human right defenders said most violations range from enforced disappearances, extra judicial killings, unlawful detention, torture among others.

“Threats and intimidation of witness derail investigations on human rights violations here in Garissa and North Eastern at large” he said.

Thuo Kinyanjui, the KNCHR regional coordinator was the guest of honor in the ceremony that also involved a procession in Garissa town.

According to the human rights crusader, violations perpetrated by the military are the most difficult to investigate.

“We all very well know that the KDF has been used to fight violent extremism in North Eastern. It has always been a huge challenge to investigate them because of their chain of commands,” he said.