The Kenya Human Rights Commission has called for the resignation of Inspector General of Police Douglas Kanja, accusing him of failing to stop a growing culture of impunity within the police service following a series of fatal shootings and cases of police brutality reported since the beginning of the year.
In a statement released on Tuesday, the commission said the National Police Service has shown a consistent inability to protect citizens and uphold the rule of law.
The statement came after the killing of Sharon Adhiambo, a first-year medical training student, who was shot dead by police officers in Nairobi’s Huruma estate on 7 February.
According to records kept by the commission, her death is the seventh fatal police shooting documented this year. The organisation strongly condemned the killing and described it as unnecessary and unlawful.
The commission outlined a timeline of incidents that it says show a disturbing pattern of violence. It began with the killing of 14-year-old Dennis Ringa in Mombasa on New Year’s Day.
This was followed by the death of 20-year-old Shukri Adan in Nairobi on January 11.
On January 18, George Matheri was killed in Nyeri, and a day later, Godfrey Muyonga and Benedict Isiakali were shot dead in Kakamega. On February 1, two more men, James Maina and Daniel Njoki, were killed by police in Kahawa West, Nairobi.
Beyond the deaths, the commission also reported several cases where people were injured by police officers. On January 10, officers in Nandi County allegedly attacked and injured youths who were playing pool. Three days later, Francis Nzau was brutally assaulted by police in Kahawa West.
On January 20, another man was shot and injured in Mukuru kwa Njenga, Nairobi, during protests linked to demolitions. The commission said these incidents show that the use of excessive force is not rare but has become routine.
The Kenya Human Rights Commission noted that the Constitution clearly guides how police officers should carry out their duties. It referred to Articles 29 and 244, which require officers to act professionally, respect human rights, and follow the rule of law.
The commission said the repeated killings and assaults show that these constitutional requirements are being ignored. It added that the right to life, which is protected under Article 25 of the Constitution, has been violated in several of the cases it documented.
While acknowledging that the Independent Policing Oversight Authority has opened investigations into some of the incidents, the commission expressed frustration with the slow progress.
It warned that delays in investigations deny justice to victims and their families and allow offending officers to remain unaccountable.
The commission demanded the immediate resignation of Inspector General Douglas Kanja, saying he has failed to stop systemic abuse within the police service. It also called for the arrest and prosecution of all officers directly involved in the shootings and assaults, as well as the commanders under whose watch the incidents occurred.
The commission further issued a seven-day ultimatum to the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions to begin prosecuting the responsible officers. It warned that if no action is taken within that period, it will pursue private legal action to seek justice and accountability.
