NAIROBI, Kenya, Feb 27 – A political wing of the outlawed Mungiki sect has threatened to stage countrywide protests next Friday if Police Commissioner Major General Hussein Ali is not sacked.
Their Spokesman Mr Njuguna Gitau said they had the backing of students at the University of Nairobi and members of Bunge La Mwananchi to press for the implementation of UN envoy Prof Philip Alston’s report, which indicted the government over extra judicial killings.
“We have mobilised for support and various organisations are with us. We want to ensure this report is not trashed because it is credible,” Mr Gitau told reporters at a joint press conference with the University of Nairobi Student Union (SONU) Chairman Dan Mwangi.
He said they fully acknowledge Prof Alston’s report and urged the government to implement it.
“Prof Alston has confirmed what we have been saying. The police under Ali’s leadership are involved in extra judicial killings and we even have a list of those they have executed,” he said.
SONU’s chairman on his part said students at the university were willing to join hands with other organisations for the interests of Kenyans.
He said students were also affected by the alleged police atrocities because their kin were the victims.
“Even the students themselves are so ready to go to the streets to join hands with other organisations who are demanding the sacking of Hussein Ali,” he said.
The UN Special Rapporteur for Human Rights was in the country at the invitation of the government to investigate the extent of reported extra-judicial killings allegedly carried out by state security agents.
He released his report on Wednesday which largely indicted the police chief, Attorney General Amos Wako and accused President Mwai Kibaki of failing to act decisively.
Professor Alston said he had gathered incriminating evidence against the police during his two-week tour of Kenya and concludes that there exists what he termed ‘systematic and well planned executions’.
He questioned the continued silence by the President whom he said had failed to institute reforms in the police department despite having received recommendations from various civil rights organisations and the Waki Commission which documented the post election violence.
“His (the President’s) silence to date on this issue is both conspicuous and problematic. The reforms should begin with the immediate dismissal of the police commissioner,” Prof Alston said.
“Any serious commitment in ending impunity that currently reigns in relation to the widespread and systematic killings by the police should begin with the immediate dismissal of the Police Commissioner,” he added.
Prof Alston’s recommendations have drawn mixed reactions from government officials, diplomats and civil society groups.
While the government appears divided on its adoption and subsequent implementation, key diplomats from the United States of America and the United Kingdom want it implemented.
