Interior Principal Secretary Dr. Raymond Omollo has broken silence on police conduct during the femicide protests that took place on December 10, 2024.
While Speaking in a media interview, Omollo regretted the police actions towards the protesters.
“The events were pretty much unfortunate, to say the least and on one happening on such an important day.
“For me it’s a question where you are saying things didn’t go right, it’s not something you would want to say is acceptable. It is regrettable, it is something that should not have happened in the first place,” Omollo regretted.
Omollo regrets police actions towards protestors during Femicide protests
When asked about whether action will be taken against police officers who went overboard, Omollo said that those found culpable will go through the legal process.
“We have internal processes within the structure of the police and there is structure that is within the command of the Inspector General. We expect that anyone found culpable must be taken through the legal process.
His remarks came after several police officers were caught on camera hurling tear gas cannisters on peaceful protesters during the femicide protesters.
Also Read: END FEMICIDE: Protesters Arrested; Others Teargassed as Planned March is Disrupted
Police actions towards protestors sparked widespread condemnation, with Amnesty Kenya leading the criticism.
The organization emphasized that the protests represented a critical stand against the killing of women, calling for urgent investigations and accountability for perpetrators.
Amnesty Kenya underscored that these demonstrations are a fundamental exercise of constitutionally guaranteed rights to assemble, demonstrate, and petition, as provided in Article 37 of the Kenyan Constitution.
Uproar over police conduct
The violent police response, including the arrest of peaceful protestors, has been described as a direct attack on Kenya’s democratic principles and citizens’ human rights.
The Law Society of Kenya (LSK), through its President Faith Odhiambo, also condemned the police’s actions. Odhiambo urged law enforcement to refocus their efforts on addressing and ending atrocities rather than perpetuating them.
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She criticized the persistent pattern of violent police responses to peaceful demonstrations, calling it unjustifiable, especially when the protests advocate for the protection of women amid a national crisis of violence against them.
The United States Embassy said it was regrettable and concerning to see police action against Kenyans exercising their constitutional rights to assemble and protest peacefully.
“On International Human Rights Day and every day, the United States supports efforts to end Femicide and protect the human rights of all people,” the embassy said.
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