Wednesday, February 25, 2009

BREAKING NEWS: GOVT REJECTS UN REPORT ON KILLINGS

The Kenyan government has rejected a report by UN investigator into extra judicial killings Professor Phillip Alston even before the report is officially presented to relevant government officials. Government spokesman Dr. Alfred Mutua, on the government’s official website, has dismissed the report accusing the UN envoy of overstepping his mandate, making the report in bad faith and almost impinging on matters of Kenya’s sovereignty.
After a ten day probe that took him across the country, Professor Alston returned a damning verdict not only indicting the Attorney General and Police commissioner of presiding over the illegal executions but also putting President Mwai KIbaki on the spot over failing to act on the matter. Alston recommended the immediate sacking of both Attorney General Amos Wako and Police Commissioner Major General Hussein Ali.
According to Alston “Kenyan police are a law unto themselves, and they kill with impunity…there exists in Kenya a systematic, widespread and planned policy to execute people on a regular basis.” He argues that any serious commitment at reforming the law enforcement body should begin with the immediate dismissal of the Police Commissioner.
His verdict on the Attorney general is even harsher, arguing that Mr Wako is the embodiment of the culture of impunity in Kenya. He has presided over a system that is bankrupt in relation to police killings.”
The UN envoy must have touched a raw nerve with his assertion that President Mwai Kibaki is ultimately to be held accountable for the executions. Alston says “the president should come out and admit that there exists a serious problem of extra judicial killings.”
In his response to the report Mr Mutua accuses Alston of breeching the laws of natural justice by not seeking a government response before he published his report. Alston had in the course of his probe met top government officials including Prime Minister Raila Odinga and Internal Security Minister Professor George Saitoti. The government had expressed its support for his investigation pledging full cooperation. The government’s sincerity in making these pledges is now put to question following the sharp reaction. Only last week the Kenyan parliament adjourned its regular sessions to discuss reports that over 3000 Kenyans have been killed in extra judicial executions carried out by the police force.

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