BY NAMULONGO PETER,NAIROBI,DEC 7,2016-With over 5 cases of disappearance and extra judicial executions reported to HAKI Africa everyday, the organization Wednesday launched a report documenting 81 related cases from the coastal region carried out between 2012 and Dec 2016 with the most recent dating only a week ago.
Presenting the report to Independent Police Oversight Authority IPOA, the HAKI Africa officials and relatives of victims have expressed displeasure in the way counter-terrorism entities are dealing with terrorism suspects especially those of the Muslim faith in the coastal region.
Haki Africa director ,Hussein Khalid says the combined effect of tactics long deployed by counter-terrorism entities in Kenya has resulted in many coastal Muslims perceiving themselves as victims of collective punishment meted by police and security agencies on behalf of the government. This he says, has eroded trust between community members and authorities with affected communities viewing those whose official function is to protect them from harm as those who violate their rights. HAKI Africa and other civil societies now want IPOA to look into the cases and ensure justice is served for the affected families.
On his side the IPOA chairman Macharia Njeru advised civil societies and the community to assist the government in countering radicalization adding that it is illegal for the police to deal with terrorism by breaking the law. He says the report will be looked into and investigations done to ensure justice and officers responsible for the executions being held to account. He s however urged the community to work with police in identifying terrorists to avoid similar cases in the future.
