UN’s rights office has urged police to facilitate peaceful protests

United Nations has showed concern over the widespread violence in the anti-government protests by Azimio la Umoja One Kenya Coalition and allegations of unnecessary disproportionate use of force by the police. “We call on the authorities to ensure the right to peaceful assembly is guaranteed in the Kenyan constitution and international human rights law. The policing of protest must seek to facilitate peaceful assemblies and any use of force must be guided by the principles of legality, necessity, proportionality and nondiscrimination,“ read the statement by Jeremy Laurence, UNHR spokesperson.

Foreign Affairs principal secretary Korir Siong’oei has however called on the UNHR to not only condemn the police for unleashing excessive force on the protestors but also condemn the reckless mobilization of violent gangs. “While regretting and decrying the unfortunate loss of life or injury, the reckless mobilization of lawless gangs to loot, destroy property, disrupt business, deprive many of means of livelihood and create an environment of disorder, must receive equal condemnation,“ tweeted Siong’oei, in what could clearly be seen as Kenya’s response to UN over the demos.

UNHR further called for prompt, thorough, independent and transparent investigations into the deaths and injuries of the victims of the Azimio demonstrations. “Those responsible must be held to account. Effective measures to prevent further deaths and injuries must be adopted,” the statement added. Police brutality has also been condemned by the International Commission of Jurists (ICJ Kenya) calling for restraint by police from using excess force.

“Individuals have the right to peacefully assemble and express their opinions without facing lethal force,” ICJ Kenya asserted. This even as the opposition outfit announced more demonstrations against the William Ruto led administration over high cost of living and punitive taxes. Odinga vowed to scale up the antigovernment demos from one a week to thrice a week citing public interests.

“The coalition hereby wishes to announce the revision of the calendar. “Going forward, the peaceful protests will now be held on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday next week,” read part of the statement by Azimio. President William Ruto however maintains that he will not allow more demonstrations to go on in the country as talks for the two leaders to hold dialogue intensify. The statement by the UNHR and a subsequent reply by the government paints a picture of pressure from the international community mounting on president William Ruto to have the stalemate resolved.