Mudavadi: Kenya has zero tolerance for police brutality

Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi has dismissed the allegations of police brutality and human rights violations in the country.

He says the government is committed to ensuring civilian oversight and accountability of the police force.

Mudavadi, who also holds the Foreign Affairs portfolio, was speaking at the 44th Ordinary Session of the Executive Council of the African Union (AU) in Ethiopia on February 14.

He responded to a report by the African Commission on Human and People’s Rights that raised concerns over the country’s human rights situation and the conduct of the police service.

“I emphasize our government’s unwavering commitment to supporting civilian oversight of police work and ensuring zero tolerance for police brutality and excessive force,” he said.

Mudavadi said the government had established the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) to investigate and prosecute any cases of violence and crime involving the police.

He also praised the role of the African Commission in promoting and protecting human rights across the continent.

The African Commission is mandated to prevent and address extrajudicial acts of killing, massacre, genocide, torture, rape, unlawful detention or imprisonment, and other security threats.

In July 2023, Kenya offered to deploy 1000 police to Haiti to quell the violence, an offer which was welcomed by the United Nations and some countries.

However, some human rights bodies complained that the country had a history of using lethal force against civilians as that they could pose an unacceptable risk in Haiti where foreign troops have committed abuses in past interventions.

The High Court later blocked the U.N-backed deployment of police terming it unconstitutional.

In the latest turn of events, the Haiti government on Wednesday, February 14 announced that it‘s working on an official agreement with Kenyan officials to secure the long-awaited deployment of a police force.

Haiti’s government said in a statement that there were “intense discussions” to bring a memorandum of understanding into compliance with the legislation of both countries.

“A final decision on the text should come early next week as well as its signature by both parties,” Haiti’s government said.

It said the talks also focused on the mission’s operations, logistics, and compliance, as well as surveillance, required equipment, and human rights issues.