Police forcefully arresting a protester during June 2024 protests in Nairobi. Photo: The Conversation.
Religious leaders in Marsabit have called out the police for using excessive for and enforcing brutality while arresting online activists in the country, an act which they must stop.
Moses Mwatika lead pastor at PEFA Church in Marsabit County, strongly condemned the incident stating that the police officers must respect human rights, by imposing proper ways while arresting the activists, without inflicting injuries on them nor to some extend leading to death.
“It is sad to see that the government does not value the sacredness of human life, We have not heard for years that someone has died in the police cell, but we are currently witnessing that, and that the police have no intention of protecting people anymore!” Mwatika said.
Mwatika expressed his disappointment that Kenyans are losing their lives to people delegated with the duty of protecting them, a move he says has led to the public losing trust on the capabilities of the government to upholding the constitution on the dignity of human life. He urged that the little trust could only be restored by report from IPOA, which is also compromised by the government.
“It is difficult to unravel how the young man died in the hands of the police, was he not under the protection of the officers who picked him from his home? If it is suicide how did he do it? We are not being told the truth by the investigative team, we can only wait for the report by IPOA, but to some extent it is a government entity, so we cannot fully trust the report that will be given. We sincerely do not have faith in this government us Kenyans,” he further stated.
His sentiments coming at a time when the country is mourning the death of X blogger from Migori Albert Omondi Ojwang’, who allegedly died after brutality acts from the police at the Central Police Station, after arrest by DCI officers at his home on Saturday, 7.
However, Mwatika challenged leaders in government to stop using the authority on them to oppress Kenyans, but instead focus on proper use that protect human rights and serve Kenyans with diligence to restore the lost trust.
“This government should turn on God as they claimed during campaigns, they need wisdom. They are currently using force bestowed unto them to make things right, but they are making the situation even worse!” he further remarked.
Yesterday, former Kakamega Senator Cleophas Malala also decried police brutality against his driver. According to Malala, after the police failed to track him, they assaulted him with a gun pointer, inflicting injuries on him.
