Nairobi Woman Representative Esther Passaris has taken a bold stand against the use of live bullets by the police force on Kenyan citizens.
Passaris unequivocally stated on her X account on Monday, July 15 2024 that Gen Z, who have been at the forefront of recent protests, were innocent and only held flags and their smartphones, therefore the Kenyan police had no justification to fire bullets at them.
“@NPSOfficial_KE STOP using live ammunition on Kenyans. There is no justification at all. Our children are armed with flags and smartphones. Sure there exist infiltrations of criminal elements but the police have gone overboard,” Passaris remarked.
Additionally, Passaris acknowledged that even though some criminals participated in a few demonstrations, she emphasized that using live bullets against civilians was now being used for the wrong reasons.
Condemning police actions, Passaris further called on the acting Police Inspector General, requesting him to control his team and strategize on better ways to deal with Generation Z.
“The buck now stops with the Acting Inspector General of the Kenya Police and his team. It’s time to move from the old ways to the GEN Z way. It’s time to earn respect by giving the GEN Z their due respect as you uphold law and order,” Passaris noted.
Additionally, the legislator commended Gen Z for being at the forefront of voicing their grievances and advocating for change in Kenya.
“I have mad respect for our children and their historic achievements as we pave the way for a better Kenya,” Passaris noted.
@NPSOfficial_KE STOP using live ammunitions on Kenyans. There is no justification at all. Our children are armed with flags and a smart phones. Sure there exist infiltrations of criminal elements but the police have gone overboard. The buck now stops with the Acting Inspector… https://t.co/k9toeyJxrG
— Esther Muthoni Passaris (@EstherPassaris) July 15, 2024
Surge of disappearances
Passaris’s request comes a day after she expressed sorrow and outrage following the discovery of mutilated bodies at Kware near Mukuru kwa Njenga slums.
Passaris called for the perpetrators of the heinous acts to be held accountable and face the full force of the law.
The troubling surge in mysterious disappearances and abductions which have occurred in recent weeks were mainly attributed to protests against the Finance Bill 2024.
Several rights groups and activists had accused police officers of using excessive force on peaceful protestors.
On Friday, July 12, 2024, Police reported finding the bodies of at least six women, who were stuffed in sacks and thrown in a quarry in Mukuru slums, Nairobi County.
The Independent Police Oversight Authority (IPOA) had indicated it was investigating whether the police had a role in the gruesome incident.
“The bodies, wrapped in bags and secured by nylon ropes, had visible marks of torture and mutilation,” it said, noting that the dumpsite was less than 100 meters (330 feet) from a police station.