This archive report was first published on 6 May 2020.
Crimes Against Humanity Allegations ¶
On May 6, 2020, Governor Mike Mbuvi Sonko accused President Uhuru's team of committing crimes against humanity, including targeting and killing people during curfew time and blocking humanitarian efforts to prevent the spread of Covid-19 in Nairobi's informal settlements.
According to Sonko, the President's team, led by Principal Secretary Karanja Kibicho, Regional Commissioner Wilson Njega, and Regional Police Commander Philip Ndolo, have been systematically targeting and killing people during curfew time, demolishing and vandalizing informal settlements, and blocking humanitarian efforts to distribute masks, sanitizers, and relief food to the masses.
Sonko also accused the President's team of deploying intimidation and violence against humanitarian workers of the Sonko Rescue Team to stop them from giving emergency assistance to residents in informal settlements.
The Governor further alleged that the President's team has been evicting and displacing populations during the Covid-19 pandemic without justification, leaving thousands of Nairobi City residents exposed to the deadly virus.
Sonko called on the International Criminal Court to investigate and prosecute the President's team for their alleged crimes against humanity.
He cited Article 7(1)(k) of the Rome Statute, which defines crimes against humanity as including 'other inhumane acts of a similar character intentionally causing great suffering, or serious injury to body or to mental or physical health.'
Sonko's allegations come as the Covid-19 pandemic continues to spread in Nairobi's informal settlements, where residents lack access to basic necessities such as water, sanitation, and healthcare.
