Kenya: Amnesty international wants police killings probed

(SomaliNet) The Kenyan Government should conduct an inquiry into the killing of 30 people in separate police operations last week, an international organization has urged calling upon the Government to form an independent body to identify those who ordered the shooting.

The deceased were shot by police in Nairobi\'s Mathare slum as the law enforcers hunted Mungiki followers who had shot dead two policemen on Monday night.

The local chapter of Amnesty International said in a statement that: \"The families and dependants of those killed shall be entitled to fair and adequate compensation within a reasonable period of time”.

\"Its findings should be made public. Anyone identified by the inquiry as having been responsible for extra judicial executions should be brought to justice in a trial which complies with international fair trial standards,\" the group said.

Amnesty proposed that police officers be excluded from sitting in the panel, unlike previous inquests conducted by police.

The first operation was conducted two hours after the police officers were shot dead, and 22 residents of Mlango Kubwa, a section of the slum, were gunned down, in 10 hours of police action.

Police spokesman Eric Kiraithe said some of those killed had shot at police officers while others were armed with pangas and had attempted to block the operation.

Beside the fatal shooting, 250 slum dwellers were arrested and scores of others injured.Since last month, nine police officers have been shot dead after being ambushed by criminals.

Eleven other people have been beheaded by suspected Mungiki followers in Nairobi as well as in Murang\'a and Nyeri districts.

Property has also been destroyed including torching of eight matatus by gangs linked to Mungiki in Nairobi and Kiambu district\'s Banana area.-Nation