Kenyan Human Rights Commission Condemns Police for Blocking Peaceful Protests Over British Atrocities

By Samuel Ouma [caption id="attachment_109519" align="alignnone" width="1920"] King Charles III and President William Ruto at State House, Nairobi, on October 31[/caption] Kenyan police is on the spot for blocking victims of gross rights atrocities committed by the British Army Training Unit in Kenya (BATUK) from holding peaceful demonstrations. According to the Kenya Human Rights Commission (KHRC), the Kenyan police prevented the victims from gathering and addressing the media at a Nairobi Hotel on October 30, 2023. On October 31, 2023, the police also stopped a peaceful procession by a group of patriots from the Social Justice Centers Working Group who wanted to bring a petition to the British High Commission. The victims planned to air their grievances before King Charles III's arrival to Kenya. King Charles III is currently in Kenya for a 4-day state visit. The King landed in the East African nation on November 31, accompanied by his wife, Queen Camilla. KHRC termed the police act as barbaric, saying efforts to transform police in Kenya has proven fruitless since it was established to protect the elites' interests, especially the white. “As it were in the 1880s and throughout the colonial period, the Kenya police in 2023 is still a tool to protect the elite’s interests (predominantly white) while brutalizing, oppressing, and repressing the so-called natives,” said KHRC. The commission warned the government against using police to brutalize innocent Kenyans who advocate for good governance and pinpoint the ruling party's failures. It reminded William Ruto's administration that the freedom of expression, media, association, assembly, demonstration, picketing, and petition are allowed by the constitution, and any attempts to limit these rights will be resisted. KHRC further revealed that any police officer who violates human rights will be held accountable. “We demand that the Kenya Police allow all victims of human rights violations perpetrated by British colonial and post-colonial institutions to exercise their rights and freedoms of expression, media, association, assembly, demonstration, picketing, and petition without any intimidation and harassment,” added the commission. “These are fundamental, inalienable rights guaranteed by the constitution, which the police have no powers to limit arbitrarily.” At the same time, the commission issued a stern warning to the police against taking Kenya back to the dark and repressive rule. Meanwhile, KHRC has asked all groups who have suffered severe human rights atrocities perpetrated by British colonial and post-colonial institutions to come forward and air their grievances and demands to King Charles III without any fear. The commission has emphasized that the King must apologize and commit to proper reparatory and compensation measures for all of the victims of the atrocities.