128 cases of extrajudicial killings recorded in the first year of Ruto in power, IMLU report
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IMLU records at least 128 cases of extrajudicial killings in Kenya in the past 11 months President William Ruto has been in power despite promising to end the vice
IMLU records at least 128 cases of extrajudicial killings in Kenya in the past 11 months President William Ruto has been in power despite promising to end the vice.
The incidents were reported between October 2022 and August 2023, according to a report released by the Independent Medico-Legal Unit (IMLU) on Thursday.
According to the records, the cases of torture and related violations (TRVs) doubled within the period under review compared to the previous years, from 232 to 482.
Torture, executions, and other human rights violations are among the cases.
“This marks a staggering increase of 250 cases increase compared to the 232 violations reported in a similar period of 2021-2022,” reads the statement.
Out of the 482 cases, 351 were torture, inhuman, degrading treatment or punishment, IMLU reveals.
Looking at the gender and age, it was noted that the majority of victims/survivors were young male adults aged 18-35 years, accounting for 314.
Those aged 36-65 years constituted 121, 0-17 years comprised 44, and those over 65 accounted for 3 persons.
In total out of the 482 cases, 415 were male and 67 female.
The sharp rise in cases of torture and related violations (TRVs), according to IMLU, shows that police power abuse, such as the excessive, unjustified, illegal, and disproportionate use of force and guns, has not been curbed.
“This alarming rise not only shows a lack of progress but also suggests that the situation has worsened,” the statement reads.
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The report is contrary to President Ruto’s to end police brutality and enforced disappearances in the country.
After he assumed office as the fifth president of Kenya, President Ruto ordered a probe into the extra-judicial killings that allegedly happened in the previous regime.
Ruto had then singled out the discovery of bodies at the infamous River Yala as some of the reasons why his government was seeking to change the way of doing things.
As a demonstration of his commitment to addressing extra-judicial killings, the Head of State said that he had directed the disbandment of the elite Special Service Unit drawn from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) which was widely blamed on the mysterious killings of Kenyans.
However, IMLU notes that the data reveals that the President’s efforts to address police abuse and protect urban youth have fallen short.
The unit explains that the fact that the majority of victims/survivors are young adults aged 18-35 years (accounting for 65 percent) is particularly troubling.
“President Ruto’s promise was aimed at protecting urban youth from police abuse, yet they continue to be disproportionately affected by these violations,” reads the statement further.
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