Civil society condemns anti-government demonstrations deaths

Mombasa, Saturday July 15, 2023

KNA by Wangari Mwangi & Rehema Ravoga

Coast Civil Society Network for Human Rights (NETWORK) has condemned the killing of 15 Kenyans during the anti-government demonstrations.

They are calling for investigations into the recorded deaths, accountability, and respect for the rule of law.

They condoled with the bereaved families saying they will only get comfort when justice is served.

“These demonstrations are about the people of our country whose rights we're fighting for,” said Betty Sharon the Executive Director Collaboration of Women Development in a press briefing.

The activists condemned the use of excessive force by the National Police Service on peaceful demonstrators.

They said that the police are continuously breaking the law when they use brute force to disperse people who are legally exercising their rights.

 “We wish to see that the people behind the throwing of teargas to schools are held accountable,” Betty stated, adding “We’ve seen innocent women going about their business facing the cruel consequences of the demonstrations,”.

They called out on the police for canceling notification of the demonstrations in the last minutes. They singled out the Officer Commanding Station (OCS) Central Police Station.

She added that demonstrations in Mombasa are peaceful since demonstrators only go to the destinations, they have indicated in their notification letters to police and later disperse.

“Nobody has died or has been injured in Mombasa,” she said blaming the police for creating confusion by cancelling the demonstrations.

Courtesy ; K. N. A