Ipoa must act on cases of police brutality or be disbanded - Kajwang

Homa Bay Senator Moses Kajwang has challenged the Ipoa to show its effectiveness by investigating and publicising reports on alleged police brutalities during the Azimio protest.

He argued that the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (Ipoa) has on a number of occasions failed to put in public reports issues they have investigated to conclusion.

Kajwang is among the opposition leaders who have accused the police of mishandling protesters when the Azimio La Umoja party called on Kenyans to engage in anti-government protests due to the high cost of living.

Azimio leaders argued that the anti-riot police were shooting protesters with the aim of killing them.

During the three-day anti-government protests, some injuries, deaths and arrests were witnessed.

Nyanza and a section of Nairobi are among the places where police were accused of shooting demonstrators.

Kajwang asked the Ipoa to redeem its image by putting in public its report because injuries and deaths were counted in the protests. 

“It’s important for Ipoa to this time round do a thorough job and ensure police officers who used their weapons in the wrong way are brought to account. Kenyans want to know the effectiveness of Ipoa by taking action against such officers,” Kajwang said.

Speaking on Sunday when he visited some of the alleged victims of police brutality at Homa Bay County Teaching and Referral Hospital, Kajwang claimed that the majority of people who were shot did not participate in demonstrations.

At the hospital, Derrick Otieno and Crispin Omondi are still nursing bullet injuries allegedly linked to the police.

Otieno—a secondary school student said he was shot as he was heading home. The bullet fractured the bone in his right upper arm.

Medic Enoch Charon said they intend to do bone filling up and cementing for the student.

Fisherman Omondi on the other hand was shot at his right ankle which interfered with the tendon. He said he was shot when he had returned from fishing at Koginga Beach in Homa Bay town.

Kajwang said police acted in an unwarranted manner, saying that any continued existence of Ipoa will be of no value if police officers who shot the patients are not brought to book.

“It will be high time Ipoa is disbanded because we’ll not know its mandate. We cannot bury our heads in the sand and pretend that Ipoa is effective,” he said.

“It is inexcusable for police to shoot at an innocent civilian. It is a disorder and violation that should be punished."

During the visit, some youths expressed concerns that their lives were in danger. They claimed that police were pursuing them for allegedly taking the lead in protests. 

Some claimed to be getting anonymous calls that they will be harmed.

“Police should not frustrate hustlers who are struggling to live. As Azimio and Kenya Kwanza look for a truce, cases of atrocities meted on innocent protesting Kenyans shouldn’t get covered up,” Kajwang said.