Amnesty wants probe into Kenya taxi deaths

Amnesty International has called for impartial investigation into the killing of seven taxi drivers in Kawangware area of Nairobi last week, as pressure continues to mount on the beleaguered police force.

Human rights groups and leaders including Prime Minister Raila Odinga and First Lady Lucy Kibaki have all come out to condemn the killings that shocked the country.

And in a statement, Amnesty International also called for independent investigations whose findings must be made public.

“On Wednesday night eye witnesses reported that seven men were shot dead by a group of administration policemen, during an operation in Kawangare.... Police officers claimed the men were part of a criminal gang, but witnesses say they were taxi drivers,” the human rights organisation said in the statement.

The organisation has called on the police to fulfil the pledge it made through spokesman Eric Kiraithe to investigate into the shootings and punish the culprits.

“The promise of a police investigation is a step in the right direction,” said Godfrey Odongo, Amnesty International’s East Africa researcher. “But unlike many previous investigations, this one must be impartial and independent and its findings must be made public and acted upon.”

Unresolved

The group cited case where extra-judicial killings and summary executions have gone unresolved despite promises by police.

In March 2009, two human rights activists Kamau King’ara and George Paul Oulu of the Oscar Foundation were shot dead in their car in central Nairobi. The two had been campaigning against illegal killings by the police. An investigation into the murders has failed to bring anyone to trial.

Similarly, a taskforce set up to investigate alleged rapes by police during the post-election violence in late 2007 has failed to yield any results.

Under international law, Kenya is obliged to respect and protect the right to life of all its citizens. This includes taking effective measures to protect people against acts of violence and to bring perpetrators to justice.

“Police should be the enforcers of law and must not be allowed to rise above it,” said Mr Odongo. “Anyone identified by the inquiry as having been responsible for extra-judicial killings should be brought to justice in a trial and the families of those killed should be compensated.”

The killing of the seven have drawn public ire with human rights groups holding demonstrations in Nairobi on Sunday to call police to action.

The seven were shot dead by Administration Police officers Wednesday night following a disagreement with motorcycle operators in the area.