The Independent Medico-Legal Unit (IMLU) has called for extra vigilance on the conduct of law enforcers who compromise admissibility of suspects and witness confessions in Kenya’s judicial system.
IMLU has alleged that confessions and evidence against the police are eliminated by gun killings where the police later fabricate it to be an exchange of fire.
Peter Kiama, IMLU’s executive director, pointed out that from January to June 17 this year, IMLU has recorded 122 death cases resulting from lethal use of force by the police. He said the trend is worrying as the numbers may surpass last year’s record, where 143 cases were reported.
“110 of the 122 cases were confirmed extrajudicial killings. The rest, the police say, were protecting lives,” Kiama said.
Kiama was speaking during the annual IMLU Lawyers Network Training at a Nakuru hotel. The workshop discussed how to use the judicial system in Kenya together with regional mechanisms in Africa to pursue cases the Kenyan government is unwilling to prosecute.
“Extrajudicial killing is a serious emerging trend. The police should respect human rights and follow the set procedures of prosecuting suspects in a court of law,” Kiama added.
Kiama said that IMLU is working closely with the Law Society of Kenya, The Independent Policing Oversight Authority and the Police Service Commission to address issues brought forward by torture victims.