Kenyan police deny wrongdoing

Kenyan police have widely denied claims of torture, rape and murder during last year’s election violence, yet emerging evidence

Refugees in the Mt. Elgon district

and witness testimony suggests otherwise.

Monday, Human Rights Watch urged the Kenyan government to look into the “collective punishment” of civilians in the city of Mandera, said the BBC.

According to the organization, possible thousands of people were tortured and women raped during the political violence of early 2008.

Police spokesman Eric Kiraithe denied any wrongdoing by police officers, and asked for further evidence of misconduct by Human Rights Watch.

“Certainly we should look into the laws in this country which allow any street boy to come here and publish very disparaging lies about our internal security forces,” he told the BBC’s Network Africa programme.

The Kenyan police force has been under scrutiny for many years, and the election violence in 2008 further heightened the belief that government officials were misusing their access to power.

Election violence

In 2008, violence erupted between Kenyan tribes after incumbent President Mwai Kibaki won an additional term over opposition leader Raila Odinga. Kibaki, who is largely popular among city dwellers, while Odinga is popular in rural areas.

Kenya is in many respects divided by tribal lines, which were defined by early colonists through economic means. Kibaki supporters are said to be more affluent than Odinga supporters.

The violence of last year continues today, as many believe President Kibaki used his economic status to rig the former elections. In addition, those in positions of power are largely of Kibaki’s tribe, adding additional tensions to the already tedious economic divide between ethnic groups.

Testimonies

Thousands of people have testified against the Kenyan police, alleging misconduct during the violence elections of 2008. Despite these stories of torture, rape and murder – much of which was caught on video and photos – the Kenyan government has done little to prosecute or punish those involved.

“In front of the police station, they made us lie down,” said a victim from El Wak to the BBC. “They were beating us with sticks, rungus [clubs], anything. They weren’t saying anything except beating us and then: ‘Bring the gun or you’ll die.”

Others said the security forces twisted, crushed or ripped open their testicles.

Over 1,500 people died during the elections 600,000 more were displaced.