FIDA Condemns Shooting Death of Student, Calls for IPOA Investigation
Achieng’ was among four people shot by the police as they dispersed the crowd. Luckily, three others survived but with serious injuries.
The federation of Women Lawyers in Kenya FIDA-Kenya has condemned the shooting to death by Kenya police of a student on Tuesday 9 May 2023 in Kisumu.
This happened after traffic police officers opened fire at a public service vehicle after engaging in an altercation with the driver of the vehicle.
The 19-year-old student Jacinta Achieng , who was a pillion passenger, was shot dead during the fracas with three other people including the rider of the motorcycle nursing gunshot wounds, police opened fire to disperse a crowd as they gave chase to a matatu that had run over spikes on a traffic roadblock.
Achieng’ was among four people shot by the police as they dispersed the crowd. Luckily, three others survived but with serious injuries.
In a statement to the Media Nancy Ikinu Chairperson FIDA condemned the incident calling on the Independent Policing and Oversight Authority (IPOA) to investigate allegations of excessive use of force by police.
“We express our most sincere condolences to the family, friends, and all those who knew the Late Achieng and will support the family in their quest for justice. We condemn the heinous act in the strongest terms possible and appeal to the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) to conduct speedy and thorough investigations into this unlawful killing of Achieng.”
“It is not only sad, and unfortunate but also unacceptable that such a young Kenyan girl’s life is taken away by a trigger-happy police officer. It is tragic that as thousands of students returned to school for Term Two, the family of Jecinta is in mourning.” Reads part of the Statement.
FIDA also urged all security agencies obligated to uphold and respect the human rights of every person as enshrined in Article 21 of the Constitution of Kenya. Adding that Police officers are not exempted from these provisions and must observe the rule of law and uphold their duty to protect all citizens. All Kenyans have the right to life, freedom of assembly, and expression and the work of the police is to protect these rights.
Under Kenya’s National Police Service Act of 2011, use of excess force is only justified when strictly unavoidable to protect life.
“This was never the case in Kisumu and the shootings were unwarranted. The United Nations Basic Principles on the Use of Force and Firearms by Law Enforcement Officials, also stipulate that law enforcement officials should use nonviolent means and resort to excess force only when strictly unavoidable to protect life.” Adds Nancy Ikinu in the Statement.
These are basic principles that require all security agencies to abide by and any abusive use of firearms, as in the case of Achieng and many others, is a criminal offense
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