The Law Society of Kenya and Amnesty Kenya have condemned police for their treatment of anti-femicide protestors.
The police and the protestors clashed in Nairobi on Tuesday, December 10, 2024, and this has drawn attention, including that of LSK and other international organisations.
LSK President, Faith Odhiambo, in a statement on X, said instead of attacking harmless Kenyans, they should focus on ending atrocities that include femicide.
“The habit of violent response by police to Kenyans expressing their constitutional right to demonstrate and picket is increasingly becoming incorrigible.
“There is absolutely no justification for attacking, arresting, and interfering with harmless Kenyans agitating for the protection of women, especially when the threat of violence against women is, ostensibly, a national crisis. The police must refocus their energy on ending and fighting atrocities, not perpetuating them.
“We support ending femicide, and we support all the brave Kenyans who came out today to call for the overdue change,” Odhiambo’s statement read.
In a joint statement, LSK and Amnesty Kenya condemned their police for their acts against the protestors.
“On this International Human Rights Day, a day dedicated to celebrating and upholding the dignity, freedom, and rights of all people, we witnessed a grave violation of these very principles. Peaceful protestors in Nairobi—predominantly women and allies—marching against the epidemic of femicide were teargassed, violently dispersed, and unlawfully arrested by police.
“This protest was a courageous stand against the killing of women, a demand for urgency in investigating these murders, and a call for perpetrators to be held accountable. It is a vital exercise of the constitutionally guaranteed rights to assemble, demonstrate, and petition, as outlined in Article 37 of the Kenyan Constitution. The violent response by police, including the arrest of these peaceful protestors, is a direct attack on Kenya’s democratic principles and the human rights of its citizens,” the statement read.
Demands
It added that the excessive force and unwarranted arrests not only violate national and international human rights laws but also send a chilling message to all those advocating for justice and accountability.
They also demanded the release of arrested protestors without charge, accountability for police actions where the Inspector General of Police must initiate an independent investigation into the violence and unlawful arrests, justice for women victims of violence, and a commitment to upholding the right to protest.
“We stand in solidarity with the brave individuals who marched today, despite the violence they faced. Their actions reflect the urgent need to address femicide, protect women, and ensure accountability for those who perpetuate violence.
“To the Kenyan Government: the world is watching. The fight for women’s lives is a fight for the soul of our nation. Release the detained protestors, uphold your human rights obligations, and take immediate action to end femicide and police brutality,” the statement added.
