Human Rights Body Visits Kisii To Investigate Increased Murders

The Kenya National Commission on Human Rights (KNCHR) is in Kisii County to carry out an inquiry over the increased number of murder cases in the region in the last one year.

Speaking with the press on Monday, January 16, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Dr Bernard Mogesa stated that the region has been in the limelight in the recent past over the killings, assuring that justice for the victims will prevail.

He expressed unhappiness on behalf of the commission regarding the violation of human rights. Article 26 (1) of the Constitution of Kenya guarantees every person the right to life and Article 26 (3) states that a person shall not be deprived of life intentionally, except to the extent authorised by the Constitution or other written law.

Kenya National Commission on Human Rights CEO Dr Bernard Mogesa and Dr  Nyeri Suleiman addressing the media on January 16, 2023. /VIRALTEAKE.ELIZABETH ANGIRA

KNCHR has urged members of the public to volunteer in large numbers to give information on the murders, assuring protection for those who will do so.

"No one is going to be victimized nor exposed for giving out the information," he said.

The team will carry out its inquiry for five days following the killings that have seen Kisii County make headlines. After gathering the information, KNCHR will compile a report which they will submit to the government.

The commission will cooperate with Kisii and Nyamira counties during the exercise.

In 2021 the commission detailed in its report the lynching of the elderly persons accused of being witches, which prompted the Kisii County government to form a task force to probe on the incidents.

The Law Society of Kenya (LSK) South West Nyanza Branch Chairman Gideon Nyambati on Tuesday, January 10 called for speedy investigations into the murder incidents that have been on the rise in Kisii as well as Nyamira counties.

Nyambati noted that there were 92 murder cases pending at the High Court in Kisii but only one judge has been assigned to handle them.

The Economic Survey for 2022 had taken note of the registered murder cases and convictions obtained by the High Court from 2017 to 2021.

In 2021, 44 murder cases were recorded, 40 in 2020 and 52 in 2019 and 2018 respectively. In 2017, only 34 cases were recorded.