2-month-old teargassed while sleeping during Curfew operation

A 2 moth old baby was placed under emergency oxygen therapy after a teargas canister launched by police officers during a curfew enforcement operation in Huruma area landed in her house where she was sleeping.

Image:The exploded canister hurled by police into the house of Baby Asenath

The canister that was hurled into the family home of the toddler was then taken into custody by rights defender Rahma Waqo who has been mainstreaming the plight of the family while pursuing justice for the baby.

The canister was handed over to the Independent Policing and Oversight Authority (IPOA) at the Kiamaiko Social Justice Centre on 26 May 2020 in the presence of the Defenders Coalition, media, rights activists and other civil society organizations.

The said incident happened on the night of Friday, 22 May 2020.

The teargas exploded inside her parents’ house on second floor of a residential flat as with the father’s attempt to throw it out proving too late as the baby inhaled the pain-inflicting smoke from the canister.

Later, with other HRDs Defenders Coalition accompanied Rahma and Shamsu Abdikadir( father of the affected baby) to Huruma Police Station where they recorded a statement with police of the incident.

Image: Shamsu Abdikadir father of the affected baby addressing media during the handing over of the canister to IPOA

In solidarity with Mama Rahma Waqo, Defenders Coalition assured Rahma Wako of any support, especially during this time when human rights defenders are grossly targeted by both state and non-state actors because of their work.

“We are concerned by the gross targeting of rights defenders through arbitrary arrests, enforced disappearances and use of other intimidation ploys to frustrate them in their work. Today, as we stand with Mama Rahma we want to assure HRDs of our support in the course of their work,” Said Salome Nduata, Head of Programmes-Defenders coalition

In the month of April, one human rights activist Michael Njau and his two friends went missing and continue to be missing one and half months after alarm was raised on their disappearance on 24 April 2020 in Nairobi. The missing activist is a member of the Kiamaiko Social Justice Centre.

The case which was being handled by Rahma Waqo- a member of Kiamaiko Social justice Centre, was handed over to IPOA for investigations into the near-death experience of Baby Asenath in Huruma, Nairobi.

At the time of handing over of the case, the baby was still under medication at home with complications including nose bleeding and difficulty in breathing.

Police brutality and violence that has led to the needless loss of lives of Kenyans is an age-old systemic problem, with efforts to reform the Kenya Police bearing little fruit.

She called for speedy investigations into the incident to accord the minor justice and stop the police brutality that has since created mistrust between members the public and state agencies.

“Handing over the case gives me a glimmer of hope that the family of Mr. Abdikadir will get justice. Police excesses in this neighbourhood are chocking us!” Said Mama Rahma Wako.

IPOA have since moved on with investigations and the perpetrator is yet to be charged. We await formal updates from the state agency.