This archive report was first published on 26 October 2019.
As of September 30, 2019, the Independent Medico Legal Unit (IMLU) had recorded 78 cases of alleged extra-judicial killings by police in Kenya.
One of the most disturbing cases is that of John 'Mrefu' Githinji, a 42-year-old barbershop owner who was last seen on November 25, 2018, after being asked to accompany a client to the Nyeri-Nairobi bus stage. Two weeks later, his lifeless body was discovered bound and stuffed in a sack at Karia Dam on the outskirts of Nyeri town.
According to the postmortem examination carried out by IMLU pathologist Peter Ndegwa, Githinji's body exhibited signs of asphyxiation, with neck compression indicative of manual and ligature strangulation. Ndegwa noted that there were no visible defensive wounds, suggesting that Githinji was overpowered or there was more than one attacker.
On August 30 this year, Henry Muchangi, 25, was allegedly caught stealing at a pastor's house in Kigumo, Embu East sub-county, and was locked up at Kigumo Police Post. He was found dead inside the cell the following morning by police officers on duty.
IMLU is currently investigating what could have happened to Muchangi, and the organization is sounding a warning that the number of incidences of use of lethal force by police is rising. According to a report by IMLU, in 2018, a total of 121 people were victims of extra-judicial killing, with 92 murdered in summary executions and 17 killed to protect life.
The National Police Service Act, 2011 provides that firearms may only be used when less extreme measures are inadequate. However, the Act's provisions seem to be ignored in many cases, with police allegedly using lethal force without justification.
