The killing of youths in Nairobi slums must stop and the police involved be investigated and prosecuted, a youths’ social justice network now demands.
The network says in slums, 10-15 youths are reported missing, or killed by the police every month, and this has remained the order of the day.
Javan Omondi from Dandora Community Justice Centre says in Dandora alone, 12 young men have been killed in the last one month.
“Our communities have suffered for so long in silence and life has become unbearable. The police kill us, mothers are left without sons while others left widowed with the responsibility of raising their children without fathers,” he explains.
A young mother, Lucy Wamboi is one of the people in the slums crying for justice. She says her husband Christopher Maina was shot and killed unfairly.
“My husband was picked while constructing a tank in Mlango Kubwa and later killed in February last year without explanation,” she narrates, adding at that time, she was expecting a baby.
Lucy has since reported the matter to police and also, the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) but so far nothing has happened.
Perpetua Njeri from Kayole Justice Centre says the killer police are people well known but they have been intimidating witnesses who now fear for their lives.
“This is a clear demonstration of how those tasked with maintaining law and order are discharging their duties with impunity,” she explained.
The network says the government accuses youths of being gangs and criminals yet it is not providing opportunities for them.
Stephen Mwangi from Mathare Social Justice Centre says instead of killing youths, the government must address how or what leads youths into crime.
“Just like in any community, there are few characters with bad behaviors. And that doesn’t warrant extrajudicial killings since the Constitution says every person has the right to life. We have a justice system, and constitution must be respected and all the suspects be arrested and taken through the judicial system in accordance with the law,” Mwangi said.
According to John Mulingwa from Kamukunji Justice Centre, youths are accused of drug abuse when prominent people involved in supplying of drugs are spared.