Orange Democratic Movement Party (ODM) leader Raila Odinga has strongly condemned shoot-to-kill or maim orders given to law enforcement officers during recent public protests, terming them unconstitutional and dangerous.
In a statement issued on Friday evening, the former prime minister said Kenya should be governed by the rule of Rule of Law and due process.
He rejected the temptation to give police illegitimate and deadly powers over citizens even when the citizens are perceived to have broken the law.
Odinga called for police to prioritize lawful arrests and court arraignments over excessive force, stating that such an approach preserves human dignity and strengthens the legitimacy of the State.
“Let’s prioritize arrests and arraignment in courts over killing, maiming or brutalizing of suspects.”This preserves the dignity and respects the human rights of suspects while at the same time confers credibility to the actions of the state
He warned of militarized approach style, saying that such an approach has failed in other African countries and only leads to more violence and instability.
“A militarized approach to policing endangers both the suspect and the law enforcement officers. We are all better served as a country when we stick to the principle that everyone is innocent until proven guilty; determination that can only be made by a competent court of law.” he added