The National Police Service (NPS) has issued a statement on the physical state of its officers after the Monday, March 20 Azimio la Umoja One Kenya coalition nationwide Demos.
Addressing the press on Tuesday, March 21, Inspector General of Police Japhet Koome revealed that 31 police officers were injured during the demonstrations held in Kisumu and Nairobi.
NPS said 24 officers were injured in Nairobi while the other seven were from Nyanza. Destruction of the property was also recorded as well as the death of one protestor in Maseno.
Also Read: Rights Group Calls for Investigation Into Police Conduct During Azimio Demos
IG Koome further revealed that the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) has launched investigations into the circumstances under which the officers were injured.
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“We, therefore, condemn in the strongest terms possible, the unwarranted violence that was meted against our Officers discharging their official duties.
“We wish to inform the public that during yesterday’s demonstrations, we arrested 25 people, while 7 Officers were injured in Nyanza; while in Nairobi, 10 Police Vehicles were damaged, 24 Officers injured while persons arrested were 213,” the statement by the IG read in part.
Koome’s statement comes a day after the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights (KNCHR) called for an immediate investigation into the conduct of police officers during the Monday protests.
KNCHR chairperson Roseline Odedesaid the demos led to, “arrests, destruction of property, injuries and allegations of use of live bullets by the security agents.”
The KNCHR chairperson stated that the rights group is working with the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) to bring to book officers found guilty of using extreme force or going against the book while maintaining law and order during the demos.
“If proven, it would be very unfortunate and the same can be prosecuted under the command responsibility principle,” part of the statement by KNCHR read in part.
