Kenyan police are often accused by human rights groups of using excessive force and unlawful killings. By Patrick Meinhardt (AFP/File)
Kenya's failure to hold police accountable for the alleged killing of dozens of people after the 2017 election raises the risk that officers will abuse their power when the country goes to the polls next week, Human Rights Watch (HRW) said on Tuesday.
The rights watchdog said authorities had failed to investigate allegations of police brutality or implement reforms, raising the threat of violence if the election results are contested next week.
"The failure to address police abuses in Kenya's previous elections may embolden them to continue their bad behavior around this year's general elections," said HRW East Africa Director Otsieno Namwaya.
Kenyan police are often accused by human rights groups of using excessive force and unlawful killings, particularly in poor neighborhoods.
In the past, they have also been accused of leading task forces targeting those - including activists and lawyers - investigating alleged rights abuses by police.
HRW said it had documented the alleged killing of at least 104 people by police during the last election in 2017, mostly supporters of then-opposition leader Raila Odinga.
Heavily armed police were deployed to disperse protesters after Odinga refused to accept President Uhuru Kenyatta's victory.
"With just seven days until the next general election, Kenyan authorities have yet to take steps to ensure justice for the police brutality that characterized the 2017 general election," the human rights group said.
On August 9, Kenyans will elect a new president as well as hundreds of members of parliament and about 1,500 district officials.
Deputy President William Ruto (right) and opposition leader Raila Odinga. By Simon MAINA (AFP/File)
This year's presidential vote is largely a two-horse race between Deputy President William Ruto and Odinga, who is now backed by Kenyatta and the ruling party.
Kenya, with its diverse population and large ethnic voting blocs, has long suffered from politically motivated communal violence at election time, particularly after the 2007 poll in which more than 1,100 people died, damaging the nation's psyche.
HRW said it had interviewed activists, government officials, police and victims' families, who feared that law enforcement officers "will respond abusively" to any violence or public protests if there are disputes after next week's vote.
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