Kenya orders probe into 'police brutality' on protesters

Kenyan police chief on Tuesday ordered internal investigations on the use of brutal force by the security officers who were seen viciously beating protesters as they broke up anti-electoral body's demonstrations on Monday.

Inspector General of Police Joseph Boinnet warned that the police officers implicated in excessive violence would be identified and action taken against them.

"I condemn the lawlessness visited on the public by rioters on Monday and an internal inquiry is underway to determine whether any police officer broke any law while quelling the riots," he said.

The police chief's directive comes amid a round of condemnations by civil society activists, lawyers and politicians on the excessive use of force by police to quell the protests.

The security officers fired teargas and beat opposition protesters with truncheons during the demonstrations called by opposition leaders to press for removal of Independent Electoral and Boundary Commission (IEBC) top officials.

The police chief's directive comes after the man was captured on camera while being assaulted by anti-riot police during demonstrations.

The protester's video and pictures showing him receive a cruel beating from two anti-riot officers was widely circulated online, causing a buzz over police brutality in the country.

In the video, officers are seen chasing the opposition supporter who unfortunately falls down before being attacked with a club and kicks amid reports he succumbed to his injuries early Tuesday.

However, the protester was found alive in Nairobi's Kibera slums recuperating in the house. It also emerged that the man who had earlier been identified as Bernard Ngatia is actually Boniface Manono and was seeking medical attention after injuries sustained during the protests.

Manono was found by journalists sleeping in his house at Kibera dressed in the same clothes he had during the Monday demonstrations. He said the anti-riot police officers had chased after him and one of them tripped him.

He was headed to a bus terminus from an interview when a teargas hurled at him made him to change direction. "Several police officers beat me up with batons and left me there. I was helpless," Manono said.

He said journalists picked him up and moved him to the veranda of a building he does not know its name.

Other reports indicate that the young man was not part of the demos but had travelled to Nairobi for an interview with a taxi company, Uber.

The information of his false death was described by Jubilee supporters as a ploy by opposition leaders to spark unnecessary tension in the country.

Source: XINHUA