Police Inspector General Japhet Koome is facing legal action in connection with the police killings that occurred during the 2017 General Elections, during his tenure as Nairobi Police Commander. The Kenya Human Rights Commission (KHRC), Muslims for Human Rights (MUHURI), and Khelef Khalifa have jointly filed a lawsuit against Koome, demanding an investigation into the alleged use of excessive and lethal force by police officers to suppress dissent, resulting in 33 fatalities in Nairobi.
The unrest erupted following the disputed victory of President Uhuru Kenyatta, which was contested by the opposition.
“As indicated in the petition, government pathologists confirmed that the deceased individuals had succumbed to gunshot wounds. However, the lawsuit asserts that not all the deceased were found on the streets; tragically, some lost their lives in their residences and places of business,” a portion of the petition reads.
The petitioners allege that their requests for access to the investigation records related to the killings were disregarded, compelling them to pursue additional information through legal means.
They state that on January 24, 2023, they sent a letter to the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) seeking details about their actions concerning the killings, but received a delayed response.
“IPOA delayed its response until April 12 when they replied that they were investigating only 15 cases, not all 33,” they noted.
IPOA and the Attorney-General (AG) are also named as defendants alongside Japhet Koome in the lawsuit.
Khalifa reports that he wrote to Koome on July 26, 2023, seeking information about the progress of the investigation into the remaining 18 individuals, but received a delayed response extending until August 15.
They are now seeking legal intervention to obtain the investigation report, with the aim of holding those responsible accountable for their actions.