President Uhuru Kenyatta at a past event. [Photo|Standard Digital]
Condemnation of President Uhuru Kenyatta continues after he congratulated the police for their conduct during the elections.
Uhuru praised the police officers for 'discharging their duties professionally and in accordance with the law'.
But a lobby, the Civil Society Reference Group, has expressed displeasure with the president, terming his remarks as callous and insensitive.
"The acclaim confirms the widely held fears that it has become the official government policy under Uhuru's watch for officers to kill brutalise and maim Kenyans," said the group presiding convener Suba Churchill.
The lobbyist said Uhuru's commendation was the death knell on police reforms.
"The effect of this will spawn more brutality, human rights violations and impunity in the police service," he said on Sunday.
Churchill said the presidency should not have the audacity to decorate 'wayward' officers who killed innocent Kenyans for exercising their constitutionally protected rights to peaceful assembly, picketing and demonstration.
Similar sentiments have been echoed by Opposition leader Raila Odinga who criticised the President for backing police officers who have used brutal force on NASA supporters.
"To the Jubilee regime, police did an excellent job killing and maiming innocent Kenyans. To them, it is a big achievement when the police kill children," the former Prime Minister said on Saturday during a burial in Siaya County.