Human Rights Defenders want ICC to Investigate GenZ's Killings

By George Otieno

Email, thecoastnewspaper@gmail.com

Mombasa County human rights groups are calling on the International Criminal Court (ICC) to investigate the abductions and killings of Gen-z youth.

Bradley Ouna, convener of the Coast Social Justice Travelling Theatre, is disturbed that 115 youths have been killed in the protests so far since June last year.

The defenders are perturbed by the sheer numbers of injuries cited at over 1000 victims and reported 179 arrests in the latest SabaSaba skirmishes.

According to Ouna more than 15 enforced disappearances have been reported with multiple sexual violence during the protests.

“These are crimes against humanity and we therefore invite the ICC to come and investigate these deaths.”

The group condemned the shoot-to-kill order by Interior cabinet secretary Kipchumba Murkomen saying the government must follow the law and constitution 2010 on the Bill of Rights on arresting suspects and presenting them in court.

“Nobody wants to be shot, we must respect our constitution which guarantees right to live.”

The convener accused President William Ruto of failing to deliver pledges he made to the youths during the 2022 general elections.

According to him frustration and disillusionment is leading the youths to protests by ‘feeling cheated’ by the president.

“It’s you who gave those promises. Gen-Z just want jobs and a free corrupt country. When they call you out, don’t respond with bullets.”

The defenders expressed disappointment over President Ruto’s remarks of shooting the legs saying this would emboldened security officers to continue killing and injuring Kenyans.

“Gen-Zs wants accountability Mr. President. We know your know where ICC is, so tone down and we want to see results from your government.”

Mombasa human rights activist Christine Abuya also condemned the remarks by Belgut MP Nelson Koech terming them as unfortunate and against tenets of democracy and rule of law.

According to her even in the government there are leaders who are thieves and should they be shot if the current administration goes by what it says.

“Let’s start with those who wasted public money and our taxes.”

The activist called on the National Intelligence Agency (NIS) to use its mandate and act on all those who planned violence to destroy property during the protests instead of issuing threats with the aim of discouraging youths from protesting for their rights.

She said videos were openly available on the internet showing thugs breaking into shops and looting without the police arresting them.

“Why haven’t these young men been arrested? If the NIS says it has intelligence, why haven’t we seen them getting arrested.”

She dismissed the government’s stand that the recent GenZ protests were an attempted coup.

According to her nobody is aiming to overthrow the president and his government except for youths’ crave for accountability and transparency.

The rights defender said that although there are calls for dialogue between the government and the youths, they cannot succeed without the former first acting on the latter’s demand.

“We have seen the NADCO report and other reports, but no implementation. What we want is accountability and justice,” she added.