Tom Adula
Nairobi - Police may have committed crimes against humanity in pursuing Kenya's most notorious gang, a government-appointed human rights body said on Tuesday.
The Kenya National Commission on Human Rights said top political leaders and officers had directed police to extort, beat or kill more than 500 members of the Mungiki gang over the past year.
"These allegations are especially serious since they would constitute crimes against humanity given their widespread and systematic nature," said a report by the commission.
The commission is funded by the government, but operates independently and reports directly to Parliament.
Police spokesperson Eric Kiraithe denied the claims and said an internal police investigation found no evidence of atrocities.
He described the commission as "people bent on fabricating adverse reports against the police to build their careers".
Known for beheadings
Authorities say the Mungiki political and religious group is actively involved in organised crime, theft and hired killings.
Banned in 2002, the group - known for beheading some of its victims - claims to have 2 million members. It advocates a return to tribal traditions and customs.
The commission's report details horrifying methods used by police in pursuing the Mungiki, and accuses the police of covering up deaths by saying they were a result of intra-gang rivalries.
Commission vice-chair Hassan Omar said the report is based on more than 300 witness accounts and autopsy reports.
"Whereas initially the police mainly used firearms to execute the suspects, they subsequently changed their modus operandi and have since been using such methods as strangulation and drowning," the report says.
Seriously, they are worried about the rights of
gangs that viciously behead their victims! This is serious stuff because soon this will affect the US!
Topic: Kenya: Rights Groups Flays Police (Read 449 times)