Investigations into the killing of Baby Pendo in Kisumu when police officers stormed Nyalenda slums and other informal settlement areas in Kisumu city after results of the August 2017 elections were announced reveal government facilitated the mission which saw hundreds of Kenyans brutalized, raped, and killed by police.
Dubbed Post Election Mipango, the Operation had a well-organized command structure with sector commanders and was executed according to a consistent pattern involving similar victims and similar modus operandi between August 11th to 15th 2017.
In a statement on Friday, DPP Noordin Haji revealed the horror residents of Nyalenda, Kondele, Obunga, and Nyamasaria informal settlement areas went through at the hands of security officers who raided their homes and committed inhumane atrocities as part of a systematic and widespread attack on the civilian population.
”It is evident from the records that several residents were subjected to untold incidents of pain and suffering as the police officers engaged in excessive use of force and sexual violence of unprecedented magnitudes on the citizens,” the statement from ODPP reads in part.
”Further evidence points to the systematic use of violence, including killing, torture, rape, and other forms of sexual violence against civilians, all of which constitute serious human rights violations and crimes against humanity,” Haji adds.
The DPP wants the concept of command responsibility explored for the first time in Kenya’s history so as to have senior national police service officers who oversaw the operation individually take responsibility.
Haji is satisfied there is enough evidence to support his move of having the suspects charged under the International Crimes Act, No 16 of 2018.
