Lobby demands end to police brutality as teen’s killing sparks deadly protests in Majengo
The teenager's killing sparked protests that led to more deaths and injuries as police opened fire on demonstrators.
The Kenya Human Rights Commission (KHRC) has called for an immediate end to what it describes as the 'use of lethal force' by the police, following the fatal shooting of 17-year-old Ibrahim Ramadhan Chege in Pumwani, Kamukunji.
The teenager's killing sparked protests that led to more deaths and injuries as police opened fire on demonstrators.
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"The right to protest must be upheld. We demand an immediate investigation by the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA), and those responsible for these shootings must be held accountable," KHRC said in a statement.
Ibrahim was reportedly shot in the head by a police officer in Majengo on Tuesday evening. He was rushed to the hospital but succumbed to his injuries shortly after.
Outraged residents took to the streets on Wednesday morning to protest his killing, only for security officers to respond with gunfire.
"During the protests, two more people were fatally shot. One of the victims, Dennis Muthui, is at the Nairobi Funeral Home, while the whereabouts of the third body is yet to be known after police removed it from the scene," the commission stated.
According to KHRC, eight others were injured, some with gunshot wounds. Six victims are currently receiving treatment at Mama Lucy Kibaki Hospital, while another, Trevis Masiva, has been admitted to Kenyatta National Hospital. One person has since been discharged.
A reporter from The Eastleigh Voice was among those physically assaulted by police officers while covering the protest in Majengo.
Kamukunji MP Yusuf Hassan condemned the killing of Ramadhan and demanded swift action against the officer who shot him.
"The senseless killing of Ibrahim Ramadhan Chege, a 17-year-old youth from Kamukunji, is a tragedy that deeply saddens and angers me. I strongly condemn the murder of Ibrahim, who was shot in the head by a police officer in Majengo yesterday evening and died shortly after being taken to the hospital. His life, full of potential, was cruelly cut short," he said.
The MP insisted that Ibrahim's death should not be ignored.
"This is not an isolated incident. Ibrahim's death highlights the urgent need for accountability and justice within the national police service. I demand a swift and thorough investigation by the IPOA into this horrific act. The officer responsible must be apprehended and held accountable for his actions," he added.
KHRC stated that they will keep monitoring the situation and collecting evidence to ensure accountability.
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