Following its monitoring operation, the Authority revealed that it received and is expediting the investigation of cases on the excessive use of force during the public order management of the protests.
The Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) has recommended that the National Police Service (NPS) ensure the accountability of all police officers through the upscaling of technology-driven surveillance.
In a statement, IPOA revealed that pursuant to Section 6 (c) of the IPOA Act, the Authority on Tuesday, June 18 commenced monitoring activities and deployed its officers to observe and monitor how the NPS conducted public order management during the demonstrations over the Finance Bill in Nairobi and Mombasa counties.
Following its monitoring operation, the Authority revealed that it received and is expediting the investigation of cases on the excessive use of force during the public order management of the protests.
IPOA chairperson, Anne Makori. /FILE
IPOA also announced that they recorded two serious injuries amongst members of the NPS which occurred during tear gas canister deployment and recommends that the Inspector General of Police, Japhet Koome, ensure adequate equipment handling training for police officers.
The oversight authority called for NPS to step up its use of drones and body cameras to keep police officers in check during these protests and all future protests.
“Recommends that the Inspector General of Police ensures police officers in operations are properly and adequately kitted for their safety.
“Recommends that the Service upscales its capacity towards technology-driven surveillance including employment of drone technology and body cameras for enhanced accountability during public order management,” stated IPOA in part.
The authority however called on the public to comply with CAP 56 of the Laws of Kenya on Public Order, which states that “Any person who takes part in any public meeting or public procession deemed to be an unlawful assembly under subsection (10), or holds, convenes or organises or is concerned in the holding, convening or organising of any such meeting or procession shall be guilty of the offence of taking part in an unlawful assembly under Chapter IX of the Penal Code and liable to imprisonment for one year.”
Further, IPOA stated that its attention was drawn to social media allegations that one of its members of staff was revealed to be a spouse to a member of the NPS.
“Upon interrogation of its Human Resource records, the Authority has failed to establish the veracity of this allegation. IPOA discourages Kenyans from targeted cyberbullying and encourages those with any information on such matters to report to IPOA through email: [email protected] or the under-listed telephone numbers,” added the authority.
IPOA will nonetheless sustain its monitoring operations to the conclusion of the demonstrations upon which the Authority will release a monitoring report with actionable recommendations to relevant authorities.
This comes as the anti-Finance Bill protests resumed on Thursday, June 20 across many parts of the country.
