Uasin Gishu Human Rights Caucus Want County Askaris Investigated
Uasin Gishu Human Rights Caucus has protested against the alleged assault and human rights abuses towards, the business fraternity, hawkers, and street families in Court precincts Municipal Court.
This comes after Alex Kirwa was arrested and tortured at night past official working hours in the Municipal Court cell which according to them is illegal to hold any suspect past 6 Pm.
“All cells within court precincts operate as holding cells during working hours including one at the county which is but is now illegally used to confine, extort in the name of fines and even torture unsuspecting or gullible Kenyans,” said Kimutai from the Centre against Torture.
They said only magistrates or judges can order fines to be paid, pass sentences, and or both.
“County governments have no gazette cell safe Central Police station or any other police station or post in Kenya and dully gazette areas during emergencies view of operations. We call upon DCI to investigate if county government enforcement officers own a parallel occurrences book, how are the alleged suspects booked and investigated by county officers,” said Center for Human Rights and Mediation CEO, Nick Omito.
They said that it’s procedurally known that County Enforcement officers have no capacity to neither investigate nor prosecute matters since all charge sheets are approved by ODPP as director of the prosecution.
“Some mischievous County officers work with prison officers at night without police to execute said illegal activities. Police seem to have refused to work closely with County officers during enforcement because most don’t operate within the law,” added Kimutai Kirui.
They called upon the police to expedite the investigation into the alleged arrest, assault, torture, and illegal confinement of Alex which in essence amounts to abduction.
“We invite IPOA to deal with police officers seconded to county government abusing their offices and mandate. We call upon the County Executive not to harbor and defend criminals within its ranks,” Center for Human Rights and Mediation CEO, Nick Omito added.
They called on the County government to employ Human Rights Enforcement strategies and not criminalize the business community and that modalities should be put in place on how licenses should be procured and businessmen handled.
“We request the County Commander to spearhead a harmonized working by the police on duty and that of the County Askaris to protect lives and property in order to promote good working relations with the business community and all arrest,” said Monicah Jepkosgei from Afrinov
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