Police responsible for most gun-related deaths: Report

Police were responsible for 1,254 out of 1,870 gun related deaths between 2009 and 2013. This is according to a report by the Medico-Legal Unit dubbed “Our Guns: Our Security: Or Dilemma” of 2014.

The report shows that in 2014, a total of 199 people were killed by police out of which 181 were summarily executed, 14 were shot to protect life and 4 killed in unclear circumstances.

In 2015, 97 cases including 85 summary executions and 6 killed in protection of life by police officers and Kenya Wildlife Service have been recorded.

“The statistics put into question the commitment of the National Police Service to the respect of the right to life prescribed under Article 26 of the constitution and the assumption of innocence until proven guilty by an impartial judicial process,” read the report in part.

The report further puts into question the Kenya Defense Forces (KDF) Bill 2015, which is before Parliament indicating that the Bill, if passed to law, will encourage unilateral security operations without clear chain of command and accountability.

The report also expresses reservations over the Security Laws (Amendment) Bill set to be tabled before Senate on Tuesday, for the first reading proposing to grant the executive power to unilaterally appoint and dismiss the Director of CID, the Inspector General of Police and curtailing the constitutional right and freedom of peaceful.

The report also indicates increased push for justice by affected families stating that already four complaints letter have been sent to the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) and the Independent Police Oversight Authority (IPOA) to investigate the deaths.

“Subsequently, three officers have been charged in court and we are watching on behalf of the families.”

The report recommends more involvement by Inspector General of Police in implementation of police reforms.

“Kenyans are yet to see a change on the ground with regard to the conduct of police officers in reduction of impunity. It is clear much more needs to be done.”

It further urges Boinett to “act with speed to ensure the full and independent functioning of the Internal Affairs Unit (IAU) to act as a professional arm for first-hand investigations of police impunity”.

It also prompts Parliament to protect the Constitution as stipulated in Article 98 (4) and promote the democratic governance of Kenya.

The report comes days after IPOA recommended murder charges against a police officer accused of killing two university students.

In its findings following investigations into the case, IPOA states that the police shot the two Egerton students near Globe roundabout yet they were unarmed.