Marsabit Human Rights Activist Nuria Gollo has condemned the use of excessive force by police on protesters. Photo: Foreign Policy.
Human rights Activist Nuria Gollo has condemned the recent use of excessive force by police towards protesters on Tuesday protests in Nairobi.
She said the right to protest is enshrined in the Constitution of Kenya 2010, to fight and call for respect for their rights once they feel they are violated.
“It is the right of any Kenyan to protest, but the police used excessive force and injured our young people to the extent of shooting them, ” she stated.
According to her, the irate generation should be given an opportunity to express themselves, as the numbers of those injured 22, is very worrying as they were protesting police brutality, bur ended up being injured by the police. Gollo urged the police to arrest the violent protesters instead of shooting them.
“These young people are supposed to be given an opportunity to be listened too, with more than 20 injured. It is not right . They are supposed to be arrested and not shooting them. Don’t manage the protests with live protests, there should be another way to handle them,” Gollo urged.
She proposed the government to form a committee to find peaceful ways to hold protests, to avert chaos witnessed on Tuesday, where mask vendor Boniface Kariuki as shot on the head at a close range by an officer identified as Klinzy Barasa at Moi Avenue.
Kariuki is currently fighting for his life at the Kenyatta National Hospital after undergoing a successful surgery but still remains in a critical condition, according to Acting Director Dr. William Sigilai.
“The government and citizens mut look for another way to manage protests, as excessive use of force worsens the situations. A committee should be formed and collect the views on how to carry out protests,” Gollo commended.
She further urged the young generation (Gen Zs), do peaceful protests and avoid looting and destroying public property even when they are practicing their constitutional right.
“It is everyone’s right to protest, but I plead with Gen Zs to not destroy properties as witnessed on Tuesday. Do not fight each other, seat down and work on your differences,” she pleaded.
