POLICE FIRE
...Kenya police camp set on fire over ‘harassment’
NAIROBI - A police camp in Kenya’s Naivasha town, west of the capital Nairobi, was set on fire by angry residents who were protesting against alleged harassment.
The residents set the house of the officer in-charge on fire before flames spread to the other houses.
Fire fighters put out the fire but property of unknown value had been destroyed. No one was injured in the incident, according to Naivasha sub- county commissioner Mathioya Mbogo.
Police have not made any arrests and are investigating the arson.
Kenya’s Independent Policing Oversight Authority (Ipoa) last week raised alarm on rising cases of police brutality.
The police watchdog said at least 15 people had been killed by police during the nationwide dusk-to-dawn curfew, aimed at curbing the spread of coronavirus. It called for them to be arrested and charged but no action has been taken so far.
Activists have been holding demonstrations in Nairobi calling for an end to police brutality.
The latest incident came after three Kenyan police officers were arrested after one of them was filmed whipping and dragging a woman, who was tied to a motorcycle, along an earth road.
The woman was reportedly linked to an alleged robbery in Nakuru County, in the Rift Valley region.
She has been hospitalised with wounds on her legs and hands. She told local station Citizen TV that she knows the police officer.
The Department of Criminal Investigation said the three police officers are in custody and are helping with further investigations into the incident.
Kenya’s Independent Policing Oversight Authority said in a statement “it will make appropriate recommendations if culpability is established.”
A recent report by the UN human rights office documented widespread police violence across the country, including beating, use of live ammunition and tear gas, sexual violence and damage to property.