Kenya’s Interior Ministry Wants President Ruto To Establish A New Office After Recent Mass Deaths
The Ministry of Interior and National Administration recommended on Tuesday that President William Ruto create the Office of the Coroner General.
According to the ministry’s statement, the office will conduct investigations into the deaths, particularly those reported in recent weeks following a sustained wave of protests in the country.
A coroner is a government or judicial official who has the authority to conduct or order an inquest into the manner or cause of death.
“The Ministry of Interior has recommended to His Excellency, the President, to initiate the process of establishing the Coroner General’s Office as per the National Coroners Service Act 2017 to investigate deaths, including those resulting from police action.”
THE SANCTITY OF HUMAN LIFE MUST BE RESPECTED. pic.twitter.com/FygJCKtJfT
— Ministry of Interior | Kenya (@InteriorKE) July 16, 2024
The Coroner General’s Office will also ensure accountability and transparency in cases involving suspicious deaths.
According to the ministry, in light of the ongoing protests, the security enforcement agencies were instructed to exercise restraint except in specific instances.
“The police can indeed be compelled to use reasonable force when isolated and specific scenarios of protests escalate to criminalities including rioting, looting and burning of properties, disruption of traffic through the erection of roadblocks on major highways and invasion of critical and protected infrastructure,” read the statement.
More security personnel were also deployed to hotspots and areas where critical infrastructure security is a top priority.
However, the ministry urged protest organizers to notify the appropriate authorities of their planned protests and to exercise restraint during demonstrations.
“We remain on high alert concerning the insecurity posed by protest infiltrations and the cases of violence and disruption of public order. A National Multi-Agency Command to coordinate the security operations has been established”.
The Ministry also stated that criminals posing as protestors would face strict legal consequences.
Furthermore, the ministry pledged to continue prosecuting criminals accused of current and previous offenses.
Kenya’s Interior Ministry Wants President Ruto To Establish A New Office After Recent Mass Deaths
