Mombasa,KENYA:Thirty seven people were killed by police and criminal gangs during the period between September and November when the country was in the repeat presidential polls frenzy.
This is according to Human rights watchdog group Human rights watch in its latest report released on Monday.
According to the report 23 people who were mostly opposition supporters were killed by police while 14 were killed by armed criminal gangs.
“Authorities need to acknowledge the full scale of election-related violence, and thoroughly investigate each and every killing,The families of victims need justice. ” said Otsieno Namwaya, Africa researcher at Human Rights Watch.
The Organization conducted the research between November 2017 and January 2018 and the research involved conducting on interviews with 67 people who are victims of the deceased , witnesses, human rights activists and aid workers.
The researchers also examined bodies and hospital records and the report says that the victims who succumbed to gunshots were shot at close range using a high caliber rifle.
The reports states that during the anti iebc opposition protests in November, police carried out door to door raids in the opposition stronghold neighborhoods of Mathare,Kibera and Babadogo beating and injuring dozens of people.
The report further urges the authorities to properly investigate the killings and bring to book those responsible.
“President Kenyatta needs to demonstrate that he believes in the rule of law by publicly condemning all unlawful killings, and ensuring they are investigated,” Namwaya added.
