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57 people died during anti-govt protests - IPOA

This is the first time a government agency is making public the number of lives lost.

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by LUKE AWICH

News27 September 2023 - 21:00
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In Summary


  • A total 33 deaths were recorded in Kisumu.
  • Nairobi had 20 cases of deaths while both Nakuru and Kakamega had two deaths each.
Ipoa chairperson Anne Makori during the launch of the report on October 7.

At least 57 lives were lost during months of Azimio la U moja-led anti-government demonstrations across the country, a Police oversight body has confirmed.

Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) on Wednesday confirmed that the watch unit is in receipt of 57 deaths officially registered during the demonstrations.

Ipoa also disclosed that it has received 237 complaints from members of the public on the conduct of police officers.

“We received 237 complaints involving 359 complainants; cases of deaths we received as IPOA were 57 and investigations are at the tail end of conclusions,” IPOA chairperson Anne Makori said.

According to Makori, a total of 33 deaths were reported in Kisumu while 20 cases were from Nairobi.

Nakuru and Kakamega counties had two cases of deaths each recorded with the police watchdog.

The cases – according to Makori – were between Saba Saba and the time a truce was reached between President William Ruto and opposition chief Raila Odinga.

Makori  was speaking when the Authority appeared before the National Dialogue Committee (NADCO) co-chaired by National Assembly Kimani Ichung’wa and former Vice President Kalonzo Musyoka.

This is the first time a state agency is making public the number of deaths that followed the 2022 presidential elections.

Police have been dismissing reports of any fatality with Inspector General Japhet Koome at one time accusing politicians of hiring bodies from the mortuary to taint the National Police service.

The Authority which came into force in 2011 has the key mandate of providing for civilian oversight over the work of the police in Kenya.

The difference between the oversight body and the National Police Service also played out during Wednesday’s hearing with the Authority accusing Police of being partisan during their duties.

Makori narrated to the Bomas team the frustrations they faced from NPS while pursuing facts on cases of misconduct involving uniformed officers.

The Authority went further to suggest that the forensic laboratory domiciled at the DCI headquarters be made autonomous to eliminate influence from police especially while handling sensitive investigations involving officers.

Makori accused the Police of sometimes presenting doctored reports to exonerate officers on the radar of the Authority.

“He may use his professional influence to deny us the ballistic and forensic report from the forensic laboratory and we have made a proposal that this laboratory is given autonomy away from DCI,” Ipoa said.

To ensure that IPOA delivers on its mandate, the agency told the Bipartisan team to consider giving the Authority prosecutorial powers to eliminate delays in administering justice.

“Ipoa has done a lot, we have made many recommendations and we indeed we find ourselves between a rock and a hard place,” Makori said.

“Here we are being told we have not done enough you talk to police officers they say they don’t want to see us. They are saying we are the worst team that ever came into being.”

NADCO is currently receiving oral submissions from various stakeholders that will constitute its recommendations to Parliament as well as to President Ruto and Azimio leader Raila Odinga.


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