A human rights group has urged the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) Noordin Haji and the Director of Criminal Investigations George Kinoti to investigate Uasin Gishu county askaris over increased accusations of harassment and torture from residents.
The activists led by Kimutai Kirui, Programmes Officer at the Center Against Torture claimed that the county enforcement officers have been turned into a militia group terrorizing residents.
“It is sad that even after reporting several cases of people who are nursing serious injuries after being attacked by the askaris to the police, no action has been taken leaving many innocent people not getting justice and culprits going free,” he said.
The group on Monday filed a case at Baharini Police station in Eldoret where a young man named Samson Kipchirchir Chumba, was allegedly beaten and left with a fractured leg by the askaris when they terrorized residents at Maili Tisa trading center two weeks ago.
The activists wondered why many top leaders from the county have stayed mum on the issue, when the people who are supposed to guard and protect the citizens are the ones allegedly beating them.
“I call upon Uasin Gishu County Assembly MCAs to prioritize the matter in their discussions without politicizing the problem which now threatens peace and security in the county,” he added.
He further said the problem has reached a point where the DPP and DCI should come in strongly and save the situation.