This archive report was first published on 4 June 2020.
On March 27, 2020, Kenya implemented a nationwide dusk-to-dawn curfew to combat the spread of the coronavirus. However, the curfew has been marred by reports of police brutality, with at least six people dying from police violence in the first 10 days.
One of the most tragic cases is that of 13-year-old Hussein Yassin Moyo, who was standing on the balcony of his home in Kiamaiko when a bullet hit him in the stomach. The incident occurred three days after the start of the curfew.
The Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) has moved to press charges against the police officer suspected of murdering Moyo. Officer Duncan Ndiema Ndiwa, alias Champes, will be charged with murder.
According to IPOA, the evidence is sufficient to sustain trials in court. The agency supports officers in maintaining law and order but will not hesitate to act in accordance with its mandate.
The move comes as the United States has charged three other officers involved in the murder of George Floyd with aiding and abetting in second-degree murder.
Since the coronavirus pandemic, many Kenyans have reported being harassed and losing their loved ones in the hands of the police. The National Police Service Act clearly states that officers must always use non-violence first when handling a situation.
