KECOSCE Executive Director Phyllis Muema (R) and an administration officer during a past peace walk in Mombasa. [Photo/Maxwell Ngala]
Human rights defenders and community activists in Mombasa have demanded an end to police brutality in the county.Led by Kenya Community Support Centre (KECOSCE) Executive Director Phyllis Muema, the activists said police brutality in the county has led to injuries and death of innocent young men.Speaking at a peace forum in Kisauni on Wednesday, Muema said armed people believed to be police officers were terrorising locals, beating and injuring them at night especially in Nyali and Kisauni constituencies.She said the motive of the police officers is still unknown and their efforts to seek the truth from police bosses in Mombasa have proved futile.“At the moment we still do not understand what is the work of our police officers, are they subjected to kill or protect us?” asked Muema.She appealed to the Independent Police Oversight Authority (IPOA) and the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights (KNHCR) to swing into action and stop the police brutality.“We are writing an official complaint to Coast Regional Coordinator Nelson Marwa since he has been mentioned by the victims, Mombasa County Commissioner Evans Achoki and all the police heads in Kisauni lead by Kisauni OCPD Christopher Rotich. We demand answers to this,” said Muema.On Tuesday, Jimmy Kahindi a community police officer at Nyali in Mombasa cited at least five cases where youth in Mishomoroni, Bamburi and Nyali were beaten by armed police officers.The officers are said to have told the youth that they were working on orders from above.“Unfortunately one youth Mohammed Khalfan who sustained serious injuries died and was buried according to Islamic rituals. How many youths are we going to bury?” asked Jimmy.Efforts by the activist to meet Marwa are yet to bear fruits though Muema said she called Marwa who promised thorough investigations into the matter.