This archive report was first published on 6 June 2020.
On June 6, 2020, Coast Regional Commissioner John Elungata addressed the media in Mombasa, assuring the public that investigations into reported cases of human rights violations during the COVID-19 emergency period were underway.
Elungata stated that action would be taken against anyone found culpable, and that the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) was investigating reported incidents.
He also called on human rights organizations, led by HAKI Africa, to help fight terrorism with the same zeal as they do when reporting on human rights issues.
Elungata emphasized that security officers' motive is not to harm anyone, but to pursue targeted criminal elements, and that the government loves its people.
He urged activists to help in the war against terrorism and called on human rights bodies to look into the mistreatment of elderly people, an issue that has been overlooked.
Elungata also urged the public to report any cases of atrocities committed, as there are many government agencies whose main role is to investigate misdemeanors by public servants.
He stated that the aim of the security committee and public servants is to serve the public as required by the law, and that nobody goes out of their way to intentionally harm the public.
According to a report by HAKI Africa, there were 291 documented cases of human rights violations in the Coast region from March 13 to the end of May 2020.
The report noted that security agents are mandated to ensure people have security in their community, and that without security, there can never be enjoyment of human rights.
It also highlighted cases of gender-based violence perpetrated by close relatives, including fathers, uncles, and neighbors, which were on the rise.
The report recommended that some COVID-19 measures were negating the enjoyment of human rights, and appealed to the government to open up the economy and allow communities to go back to normal lives.
