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Kenya jail beating to be probed | Kenya jail beating to be probed |
(about 1 hour later) | |
Kenya's vice-president has condemned the alleged assault of prisoners by warders and ordered an investigation. | Kenya's vice-president has condemned the alleged assault of prisoners by warders and ordered an investigation. |
The incident, shown on Kenyan TV, was filmed secretly on a mobile phone and shows naked inmates at a Nairobi jail on the ground as warders beat them. | The incident, shown on Kenyan TV, was filmed secretly on a mobile phone and shows naked inmates at a Nairobi jail on the ground as warders beat them. |
Kalonzo Musyuko said the footage would be studied and ordered the prisons commissioner to take action. | Kalonzo Musyuko said the footage would be studied and ordered the prisons commissioner to take action. |
It is alleged one prisoner died of his wounds during an operation by warders to confiscate inmates' mobile phones. | It is alleged one prisoner died of his wounds during an operation by warders to confiscate inmates' mobile phones. |
Inmates in Kenyan prisons are not allowed to possess or use mobile phones. | Inmates in Kenyan prisons are not allowed to possess or use mobile phones. |
Anybody who is concerned about human rights will be shocked about what was happening Dickson MwakaziPrisons department spokesman | Anybody who is concerned about human rights will be shocked about what was happening Dickson MwakaziPrisons department spokesman |
Officials at the Kamiti Maximum Prison denied that the inmate's death was caused by the assault, saying he had been sick. | Officials at the Kamiti Maximum Prison denied that the inmate's death was caused by the assault, saying he had been sick. |
The BBC's Wairimu Gitahi in the capital, Nairobi, says in the video warders were seen armed with whips and batons, beating the inmates who were screaming uncontrollably. | The BBC's Wairimu Gitahi in the capital, Nairobi, says in the video warders were seen armed with whips and batons, beating the inmates who were screaming uncontrollably. |
The shocking footage was aired by two local TV stations and it is not clear whether it was filmed by an inmate or a concerned warder. | The shocking footage was aired by two local TV stations and it is not clear whether it was filmed by an inmate or a concerned warder. |
Search operation | Search operation |
Mr Musyoka, who also heads the Home Affairs Ministry which oversees the prisons department, received a copy of the video from the state-funded Kenya National Commission on Human Rights (KNCHR). | Mr Musyoka, who also heads the Home Affairs Ministry which oversees the prisons department, received a copy of the video from the state-funded Kenya National Commission on Human Rights (KNCHR). |
Earlier this year a taskforce was set up to probe prison conditions | Earlier this year a taskforce was set up to probe prison conditions |
"We want to able to be a country that is able to observe everybody's human rights... So the excesses that were witnessed in Kamiti will certainly be dealt with," Mr Musyoka said. | "We want to able to be a country that is able to observe everybody's human rights... So the excesses that were witnessed in Kamiti will certainly be dealt with," Mr Musyoka said. |
A Kenyan prisons department spokesman said he was shocked by the video clip. | A Kenyan prisons department spokesman said he was shocked by the video clip. |
"Anybody who is concerned about human rights will be shocked about what was happening. When I saw it, I was also personally concerned [about] whatever was being done," prisons department spokesman Dickson Mwakazi told the BBC. | "Anybody who is concerned about human rights will be shocked about what was happening. When I saw it, I was also personally concerned [about] whatever was being done," prisons department spokesman Dickson Mwakazi told the BBC. |
A KNCHR official, Njonjo Mue, who visited the prison, said 12 prisoners were injured during the assault. | A KNCHR official, Njonjo Mue, who visited the prison, said 12 prisoners were injured during the assault. |
Our reporter says the search operation was ordered following reports that prisoners were behind a scam in which mobile phone users were being conned out of money through bogus text messages. | Our reporter says the search operation was ordered following reports that prisoners were behind a scam in which mobile phone users were being conned out of money through bogus text messages. |
Prison officials say more than 150 phones were seized during the search on Monday. | Prison officials say more than 150 phones were seized during the search on Monday. |
Overhaul | Overhaul |
The prisoners later staged a strike to protest their fellow inmate's death. | The prisoners later staged a strike to protest their fellow inmate's death. |
Mr Mwakazi said investigations into the matter had been launched, but added that prison authorities were allowed to use force in some circumstances. | Mr Mwakazi said investigations into the matter had been launched, but added that prison authorities were allowed to use force in some circumstances. |
"Of course prison officers are allowed to use certain force to restrain whoever is trying to restrain either an inspection or enforcement of the law," he said. | "Of course prison officers are allowed to use certain force to restrain whoever is trying to restrain either an inspection or enforcement of the law," he said. |
In April, prison warders around the country staged a strike over their pay and allowances and threatened to release prisoners. | In April, prison warders around the country staged a strike over their pay and allowances and threatened to release prisoners. |
The government agreed to increase their allowances and set up a taskforce to probe conditions in the country's prisons. | The government agreed to increase their allowances and set up a taskforce to probe conditions in the country's prisons. |
The team recommended an overhaul of the service, and as a result, a new prisons commissioner and deputy were appointed. | The team recommended an overhaul of the service, and as a result, a new prisons commissioner and deputy were appointed. |