AP’s chief photographer and acting bureau chief for East Africa Ben Curtis was in Nairobi covering demonstrations against Kenya’s electoral commission when he witnessed police kicking and beating fleeing protestors with wooden clubs. One image captured the brutality so vividly that Kenya’s police chief has called for an internal investigation.
In a statement, the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights said it was “particularly dismayed by the gory scenes” as police tried to subdue protesters and said the actions by the security forces amounted to serious rights abuses. Kenyans took to social media to voice their reactions under the hashtag #stoppolicebrutality.
When riot police dispersed the opposition demonstration, much of the downtown area was covered with white clouds of tear gas. Police then went through the streets chasing protesters, beating them with sticks and clubs. In a nearby building where protesters and bystanders had taken refuge, police went into the building flushing them out toward waiting colleagues who beat many with wooden clubs and kicked them as they tried to flee.
The man seen being kicked and beaten with sticks by three separate police officers in the widely viewed video and photos, was initially reported as having died Tuesday by Kenyan media, but was later located alive in Nairobi’s Kibera slum and named as 36-year-old Boniface Manono, by local radio station Capital FM.
Manono said at first he managed to escape the waiting police, he ran across the street but was pursued and collapsed against a curb. As he lay motionless on the ground the riot policeman who had pursued him beat him with a stick eight times until the stick broke in half, and then continued to kick him half a dozen times, while two other police joined in. Eventually another officer walked up and directed the police to move away, leaving Manono lying in the street.
In this photo taken Monday, May 16, 2016, a Kenyan riot policeman beats a protester with a stick, breaking the stick, before kicking him as he lies in the street after falling down while trying to flee from them, during a protest in downtown Nairobi, Kenya. In an incident that has stirred anger and condemnation across Kenya, a policeman is seen beating and kicking one protester who had fallen on a road curb, while the U.S. and human rights activists have condemned violence by Kenyan police at the opposition protest for election reforms. (AP Photo/Ben Curtis)
In this photo taken Monday, May 16, 2016, a Kenyan riot policeman walks away after repeatedly kicking a protester as he lies in the street after falling down while trying to flee from them, during a protest in downtown Nairobi, Kenya. In an incident that has stirred anger and condemnation across Kenya, a policeman is seen beating and kicking one protester who had fallen on a road curb, while the U.S. and human rights activists have condemned violence by Kenyan police at the opposition protest for election reforms. (AP Photo/Ben Curtis)
“I thank God that I am alive. I could have died,” said Manono. “When I saw the way I was kicked this afternoon actually it shocked me that it was so bad.”
Monday’s protest was led by former Prime Minister Raila Odinga, who lost the most recent election to President Uhuru Kenyatta. Odinga has said he doesn’t believe the current election commission is credible, and is vowing to hold protests every Monday until the commissioners are removed from office.
Amnesty International urged Kenyan authorities to facilitate peaceful assembly and condemned the violence.
“The brutal beatings by police amount to arbitrary and abusive use of force, which is illegal under Kenyan, regional and international law,” said Muthoni Wanyeki, a regional officer for Amnesty International.
Kenyan riot police patrol and search for protesters on a street in downtown Nairobi, Kenya Monday, May 23, 2016. Kenya’s police shot, beat and tear gassed opposition demonstrators across the country who tried to gather to call for the electoral commission to be dissolved due to allegations of bias and corruption. (AP Photo/Ben Curtis)
Kenyan police prepare to charge as they engage in running battles between police firing tear gas and protesters throwing rocks, in the Kibera slum of Nairobi, Kenya Monday, May 23, 2016. Kenya’s police shot, beat and tear gassed opposition demonstrators across the country who tried to gather to call for the electoral commission to be dissolved due to allegations of bias and corruption. (AP Photo/Ben Curtis)
A woman resident talks with police as they engage in running battles between police firing tear gas and protesters throwing rocks, in the Kibera slum of Nairobi, Kenya Monday, May 23, 2016. Kenya’s police shot, beat and tear gassed opposition demonstrators across the country who tried to gather to call for the electoral commission to be dissolved due to allegations of bias and corruption. (AP Photo/Ben Curtis)
A Kenyan policeman wearing a gas mask chases protesters throwing rocks, in the Kibera slum of Nairobi, Kenya, Monday, May 23, 2016. Kenya’s police shot, beat and tear gassed opposition demonstrators across the country who tried to gather to call for the electoral commission to be dissolved due to allegations of bias and corruption. (AP Photo/Ben Curtis)
Opposition protesters throw rocks as they engage in running battles with police firing tear gas, in the Kibera slum of Nairobi, Kenya Monday, May 23, 2016. Kenya’s police shot, beat and tear gassed opposition demonstrators across the country who tried to gather to call for the electoral commission to be dissolved due to allegations of bias and corruption. (AP Photo/Ben Curtis)
Kenyan police fire tear gas to disperse a small group of opposition protesters who tried to gather outside the offices of the electoral commission, in downtown Nairobi, Kenya Monday, May 23, 2016. Kenya’s police shot, beat and tear gassed opposition demonstrators across the country who tried to gather to call for the electoral commission to be dissolved due to allegations of bias and corruption. (AP Photo/Ben Curtis)
An elderly woman caught up in the clashes holds her hands in the air as a riot policeman approach amidst clouds of tear gas, during a protest in downtown Nairobi, Kenya Monday, May 16, 2016. Kenyan police have tear-gassed and beaten opposition supporters during a protest demanding the disbandment of the electoral authority over alleged bias and corruption. (AP Photo/Ben Curtis)
Opposition supporters flee from tear gas grenades fired by riot police, during a protest in downtown Nairobi, Kenya Monday, May 16, 2016. Kenyan police have tear-gassed and beaten opposition supporters during a protest demanding the disbandment of the electoral authority over alleged bias and corruption. (AP Photo/Ben Curtis)
Opposition supporters climb over a fence into the University of Nairobi campus, as they flee from clouds of tear gas fired by riot police, during a protest in downtown Nairobi, Kenya Monday, May 16, 2016. Kenyan police have tear-gassed and beaten opposition supporters during a protest demanding the disbandment of the electoral authority over alleged bias and corruption. (AP Photo/Ben Curtis)
An opposition supporter is beaten with a wooden club by riot police as he tries to flee, during a protest in downtown Nairobi, Kenya Monday, May 16, 2016. Kenyan police have tear-gassed and beaten opposition supporters during a protest demanding the disbandment of the electoral authority over alleged bias and corruption. (AP Photo/Ben Curtis)
Opposition supporters, some carrying rocks, flee from clouds of tear gas fired by riot police, during a protest in downtown Nairobi, Kenya Monday, May 16, 2016. Kenyan police have tear-gassed and beaten opposition supporters during a protest demanding the disbandment of the electoral authority over alleged bias and corruption. (AP Photo/Ben Curtis)
Opposition supporters flee from tear gas grenades fired by riot police, during a protest in downtown Nairobi, Kenya Monday, May 16, 2016. Kenyan police have tear-gassed and beaten opposition supporters during a protest demanding the disbandment of the electoral authority over alleged bias and corruption. (AP Photo/Ben Curtis)
An opposition supporter pleads with a riot policeman, after being beaten with a wooden club by one then managing to escape but then being cornered by another, during a protest in downtown Nairobi, Kenya Monday, May 16, 2016. Kenyan police have tear-gassed and beaten opposition supporters during a protest demanding the disbandment of the electoral authority over alleged bias and corruption. (AP Photo/Ben Curtis)
Opposition supporters are beaten with wooden clubs by riot police as they try to flee, during a protest in downtown Nairobi, Kenya Monday, May 16, 2016. Kenyan police have tear-gassed and beaten opposition supporters during a protest demanding the disbandment of the electoral authority over alleged bias and corruption. (AP Photo/Ben Curtis)
An opposition supporter yells out as he is beaten with a wooden club by riot police while trying to flee, during a protest in downtown Nairobi, Kenya Monday, May 16, 2016. Kenyan police have tear-gassed and beaten opposition supporters during a protest demanding the disbandment of the electoral authority over alleged bias and corruption. (AP Photo/Ben Curtis)
Opposition protesters throw rocks in front of barricades of burning tires, as they engage in running battles with police firing tear gas, in the Kibera slum of Nairobi, Kenya Monday, May 23, 2016. Kenya’s police shot, beat and tear gassed opposition demonstrators across the country who tried to gather to call for the electoral commission to be dissolved due to allegations of bias and corruption. (AP Photo/Ben Curtis)
Women and schoolchildren take advantage of a lull in the clashes to run to safety, as police firing tear gas engage protesters throwing rocks in the Kibera slum of Nairobi, Kenya Monday, May 23, 2016. Kenya’s police shot, beat and tear gassed opposition demonstrators across the country who tried to gather to call for the electoral commission to be dissolved due to allegations of bias and corruption. (AP Photo/Ben Curtis)
A policeman, left, yells at a man trying to lead schoolchildren to safety, because he was unknowingly about to walk into a hail of rocks thrown by protesters around the corner, as police firing tear gas engage protesters throwing rocks in the Kibera slum of Nairobi, Kenya Monday, May 23, 2016. Kenya’s police shot, beat and tear gassed opposition demonstrators across the country who tried to gather to call for the electoral commission to be dissolved due to allegations of bias and corruption. (AP Photo/Ben Curtis)
A man carries a schoolgirl overcome by tear gas to safety, past the charred remains of a burning barricade, as police firing tear gas engage protesters throwing rocks in the Kibera slum of Nairobi, Kenya Monday, May 23, 2016. Kenya’s police shot, beat and tear gassed opposition demonstrators across the country who tried to gather to call for the electoral commission to be dissolved due to allegations of bias and corruption. (AP Photo/Ben Curtis)
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Another important aspect why press freedom
in Ukraine is extremely fragile – it’s connected to European or American media attitude towards Ukrainian market.
LikeLike
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LikeLike