Victims of police brutality still seeking elusive justice

• Some people still have bullets lodged in their bodies three years after violence

For many Kenyans, the 2007 post-election violence was the worst kind of madness that they had ever experienced. Many watched the madness on television and bolted their steel doors. In the end, somehow the country returned to sanity.

It was assumed that all had been forgiven. Even the Prime Minister was quoted as saying, “We have been to hell and back.”

However, there is one group of forgotten Kenyans who are still suffering from the effects of the violence.

Most attention focused on violence perpetuated by the various militias and the IDP crisis while victims of state violence were ignored.

Victims of police brutality are still suffering, many are still in pain, some with bullets lodged in their bodies.

Instead of protecting them, the government brutalised them and left them to die or fend for themselves. Many sought justice in vain.

This week, some of the victims of state violence gathered in Kisumu, courtesy of the International Centre for Policy and Conflict and the Citizens Against Violence Initiative.

Police bullets

They recollected the horrors of the post-election violence and how their lives were shattered by police bullets.

Mr Gregory Ngoche, a 53-year-old volunteer social worker, remembers that he sitting in his Kisumu home, basking in the early morning sunshine when the tranquillity of the new day was broken by screams of protesters. Bullets were flying everywhere.

“Live bullets were flying everywhere, some hitting trees. One of them hit me in the lower abdomen,” he narrates.

He says his family is still fearful of living in their neighbourhood because of the police activity.

Ms Alice Atieno, a security officer, recalls arriving home in Manyatta Estate after the day’s work. Her six-year-old son was playing outside when she saw youths breaking into a nearby shop.

Disability

On hearing gun fire, she quickly grabbed her son and headed for a neighbour’s house. But as they neared the house, she was shot through the back of the head.

She regained consciousness nearly two weeks later in hospital. She is now unable to eat solid food, cannot work, or afford to pay for an operation that would help ease much of her disability.

Three years after the anarchy, Steve Otieno, 23, still has a bullet lodged in his body. A visit with a friend to the petrol station was not, according to him, supposed to expose him to any danger.

“We heard people shouting as they came in our direction. There was a confrontation between police and the public. The petrol station is located opposite the police station and, apparently, the people wanted some prisoners to be released,” said Steve.