Atrocities Kenyan police have committed in the aftermath of elections that has led to deaths of 67 Kenyans

On August 8, 2017, Kenyans trooped to various polling stations across the country to exercise their democratic right and elect leaders of their choice.

On August 12th, The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) announced the incumbent, Uhuru Kenyatta had won the Presidential elections after garnering at 54.27%) of the vote at Bomas of Kenya.

The opposition however rejected the election outcome and move to court for redress, On September 1st the Supreme Court annulled the presidential elections citing various.

While the country and the world were glued to Kenya’s Supreme Court following every detail by the minute, away from corridors of power serious human rights violations, especially in opposition strongholds in Nairobi, western Kenya and Coast were being carried out by the Kenyan police.

Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch between August 9 and September 12, 2017 carried out investigations on events in Nairobi’s informal settlements (Mathare, Kibera, Babadogo, Dandora, Korogocho, Kariobangi and Kawangware) in the aftermath of polling and the announcement of results on August 11.

Also read: KENYA'S PROTEST TURNS BLOODY AFTER ONE PERSON IS SHOT AND CAR RAMS INTO PROTESTERS

This report describes policing patterns in response to protests and violence in the informal settlements and documents a wide range of human rights violations including unlawful killings, excessive force and beatings.

According to the report, at least 33 people were killed in Nairobi alone, most of them at the hands of police.

23, including children, appear to have been shot or beaten to death by police, others died after inhaling tear gas and pepper spray fired at close range or trampled by fleeing crowds and two died of trauma from shock.

In one case, a 9-year-old girl, Stephanie Moraa Nyarangi, was shot dead while standing on the balcony of her family’s apartment.

Two others were stoned by mobs and unconfirmed reports also indicate that another 17 people were killed in Nairobi.

Added to the 12 killings at the hands of police documented by Human Rights Watch in western Kenya, and five additional killings confirmed by the Kenyan National Human Rights Commission, the national death toll could be as high as 67.

Also read: POLICE TEARGAS NURSERY SCHOOL PUPILS IN KENYA DURING ANTI-IEBC DEMOS

Hundreds of residents also suffered severe injuries including gunshot wounds, debilitating injuries such as broken bones and extensive bruising as a result of the police violence.

The media was not spared either and came face to face with the brutal face of the Kenyan police.

Journalists and human rights activists were prevented from accessing these areas and carry out their work by the Police.

In one case, in Kibera, a police officer smashed a foreign journalist’s camera when he tried to photograph police beating a youth leader.

Police also beat up a local activist and smashed his camera when he tried to film them in Mathare.

Kenyan police inspector general, Joseph Boinett has continued to maintain that the police acted within the law even in the face of overwhelming evidence and so far no ‘rogue’ police officer has been held accountable.