Uproar as police beat up mentally ill woman in mourning during Saba Saba protests
Mentally unstable woman who was not part of the Saba Saba protesters meted with police brutality on her way home
Mentally unstable woman who was not part of the Saba Saba protesters meted with police brutality on her way home.
Online debate on police brutality and their responsibility for ensuring peaceful protests has been sparked by a photo taken on Friday, July 7, during the Saba Saba protests in Kisii County.
The image shows an obviously elderly woman running by a policeman who looks to have lifted a baton in her direction.
To many who know the lady, the action of the police seemed unwarranted since, by the look of things, the old lady was harmless and had posed no threat to the officers who were quelling protests in the town.
The woman could be seen in the image that went viral clutching a jembe and a tiny satchel.
“The woman in this photo comes from Suneka. She is mentally unstable,” a source familiar with the lady told the media.
To compound her issue, further reports alleged that the woman recently lost her son in unclear circumstances in Kisii.
“Her son died mysteriously days ago, alleged to have died by suicide while some claimed he was murdered,” the source stated.
“As if that wasn’t enough, the cruel world toppled this mama to yet another harsh treatment of a police beating. She was caught in the anti-government riots. In all fairness and standards, allow me to call out to the police for acting with cruelty,” the source privy to the incident told this journalist.
Meanwhile, Kisii Senator Richard Onyonka expressed concerns about how police used extra force to quell demonstrations in Kisii.
Onyonka also wondered how the protest that began as a simple mass action soon snowballed into a full-blown escalation that led to a police officer being smacked down and property of unknown value destroyed.
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“The protests, which were initially intended to amplify the voices of the people and address pertinent issues affecting the country, unfortunately, devolved into chaos, resulting in injuries and damage to property.
“I am deeply saddened by the turn of events and recognise the urgency of addressing the underlying causes of the unrest. In a show of solidarity with the people of Kisii, I call for a thorough and expeditious investigation into the allegations of excessive force and the use of live bullets by law enforcement agencies,” Onyonka stated.
The Senator asked the National Police Service to ensure perpetrators of violence in Kisii and other parts of the country during Saba saba Day protests were apprehended and charged.
“It is crucial that truth and justice prevail and those responsible for misconduct are held accountable. I emphasise that the purpose of peaceful demonstrations is to foster positive change and ensure the welfare of the citizenry.
“However, using such platforms to settle political scores or further personal interests undermines the intended purpose and threatens the harmony of the country,” Onyoka stated.
Human rights activists also demanded the release of protesters arrested during the Saba Saba demonstrations while criticising the police for failing in their mandate.
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