Amid questions of authenticity of the police force, police officers in Kisumu region have been exposed for aiding crimes and prosecuting human rights defenders whom they deem a threat to the business and political class of the region.
In their press statement dated October 31, Kisumu Human Rights Defenders through Kondele Community Social Justice placed Kisumu Police Commander in the midst of perfectly tailored violence against activists who are normally dubbed the voice of the voiceless.
In their statement, the group accused the commander of negatively profiling one of their own, Audi Ogada whom he accused of making malicious accusations concerning Kisumu Policemen.
The Defenders allege that the commander was brewing a ripe environment for violence against them, having exposed his open loathe for the group’s line of work. They accuse the police of profiling and suspiciously prosecuting their colleagues using far fetched tutored crimes.
According to the activists, police officers’ laxity in resolving active cases, providing security to activists and criminalizing human rights activism has created a volatile environment for the defenders.
In recent times, the boys in blue have been caught in the wrong hands of the law. Recently two police officers were nabbed in connection to high handed theft in Eastleigh.
Between August 2017 and March 2018, police and other officials were also on the spot after targeting at least 15 activists and victims in Nairobi, the capital, and in the county of Kisumu for intimidations.
The intimidation included threats of arrest and other unspecified consequences, warnings not to post information about police brutality, home and office raids, and confiscation of laptops and other equipment.