50 Kenyan Police Officers, Commanders Summoned Over Reckless Gen Z Protest Killings
The Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) has summoned more than 50 police officers for misconduct during the 2023 Azimio protests and the 2024 Gen-Z protests, which killed dozens and injured scores.
Notably, 15 of the summoned officers are senior police commanders, most of whom are from the Western region, where the Azimio protests resulted in the most deaths in 2023.
The officers must therefore present themselves to the IPOA detectives between Tuesday and Thursday this week.
Meanwhile, the National Police Service (NPS) has asked all summoned officers to meet with their legal representatives today, September 16.
“Legal officers from this headquarters will meet with concerned officers at the Regional headquarters on September 16 for briefing prior to appearing at the Authority offices on the respective dates,” read part of a letter signed by Elizabeth Marube on behalf of the Deputy Inspector General.
IPOA summons over 50 police officers, including 15 senior commanders over misconduct during 2023 Azimio protests and Gen Z-led anti-Finance Bill protests in 2024.
— Cyprian, Is Nyakundi (@C_NyaKundiH) September 16, 2024
The summoned officers are required to appear before IPOA detectives between September 17 and 19 2024.
NPS has… pic.twitter.com/XpyWhEbZRA
This follows the Law Society of Kenya and the civil society’s concerns about police involvement in the abductions and deaths of Kenyan protestors in the series of protests that plagued most parts of the country in both 2023 and 2024.
On August 30, IPOA wrote to the Deputy Inspector General of NPS, stating that the investigations into the suspected misconduct were progressing and were nearing completion.
“In the course of its investigations, the Authority has established that several police officers were involved during the said police operations that resulted in deaths and serious injuries among other crimes,” the IPOA wrote in the statement to DIG.
Section 7(1) of the IPOA Act authorizes the Authority to request documents and summon both serving and retired police officers.
Both protests resulted in the deaths of dozens of Kenyan protestors at the hands of police.
Kenyans and human rights groups reacted angrily, accusing the police of using excessive force and denying Kenyans the right to peaceful assembly.
The deaths of Reagan Ouko and Caroline Shiramba on June 25 and Daniel Wanje and December Shivachi on July 23 are among the most notable cases to be investigated.
Senior police officers in Nakuru have already been questioned about the shooting of K24 TV Journalist Catherine Wanjeri during the Gen Z protests.
In a historical case that made this summons possible, a 2022 ruling sought to hold senior police officers in Kisumu accountable for the shooting of Baby Pendo during the 2017 protests.
Senior police commanders summoned include Bungoma Police Commander Francis Kooli, Kakamega Police Commander Lucy Kananu, and Bungoma South Police Commander Wilson Muraya.
In addition, the Kakamega Central counterpart, the GSU officer in charge of the Kakamega State Lodge, and the officer in charge of the Akichelesit Anti-Stock Theft Unit (ASTU) were summoned.
50 Kenyan Police Officers, Commanders Summoned Over Reckless Gen Z Protest Killings
