The Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) has rebuked Inspector General of Police Japhet Koome for asking police officers to use their guns to protect themselves while in danger.
In a statement released on Saturday, Ipoa chairperson Ann Makori said the constitution mandates all national security organs to be subordinate to civilian authority.
She reminded the IG that President William Ruto committed to ensuring no extrajudicial deaths occur as a result of rogue police officers.
“Our attention is drawn to the unfortunate and dangerous statement attributed to the Inspector General of Police yesterday, where he gave police officers a shoot to kill order against suspected criminals,” Makori said.
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On Friday, IG Koome urged police officers to use their guns to protect themselves while in danger.
Koome told off people calling on arrest of police officers saying officers cannot be attacked and fail to use their guns.
“The other day they said arrest 12 police officers. The office of the IG will stand with you,” he said on Friday.
According to Koome, police should use their arms to protect themselves, citizens and property.
“We shall not be intimidated. We have a mandate to protect life and property. I repeat, we shall not be cowards,” he said.
The IG hit out at Ipoa which he said only investigating cases involving police errors and not officers killed in the line of duty.
“Do not be intimidated by busybodies whose work is to recommend the arresting of officers and today I don’t see them here,” Koome said.
However,Makori says police have the public and their full support including when they make a decision that may result to the use of lethal force.
Makori noted that IPOA shall investigate death or serious injury while in police custody, which are the result of police action or were caused by members of the service while on duty.S
“Out of the more than 20,000 complaints that the authority has received against the NPS, less than 500 have been forwarded to the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions, with the recommendation to charge,” she said.
The official said investigations found that police used lethal force justifiably.
