Voi evictions: Coast region gets new police commander

Inspector General of Police Japhet Koome had Saturday ordered an inquiry into the land eviction

In Summary
  • The eviction left over 3,000 people homeless.

  • Koome said he had directed an internal inquiry into the incident.

New Coast regional police commander George Sedah in a past event
New Coast regional police commander George Sedah in a past event
Image: HANDOUT

Coast region has got a new police commander in changes announced by police headquarters following the eviction of residents that happened in Voi, Taita Taveta.

Also affected were police commanders in Taita Taveta and Voi subcounty.

Former North Eastern regional police commander George Sedah was Sunday, January 7, named the new Coast commander.

Sedah replaced Kenneth Kimani who was recalled to police headquarters.

Sedah has been leading operations in Boni enclave and was ordered to take over in Mombasa.

Also affected was the Taita Taveta county commander Patrick Okeri who was recalled to police headquarters and Voi subcounty commander Bernstein Shari.

Ibrahim Daffala was named the new Voi police commander while William Kiplangat took over at Taita Taveta.

Inspector General of Police Japhet Koome had Saturday ordered an inquiry into the land eviction exercise that happened in Voi, Taita Taveta.

The eviction left over 3,000 people homeless.

Koome said he had directed an internal inquiry into the incident.

The IG also recalled the police commanders to Nairobi for the probe.

He said their recall will pave the way for the inquiry.

He added that action will be taken against any officer found culpable of carrying out the said demolition without the necessary authorization.

It emerged the plan to demolish the houses was not shared among top officials in Nairobi as it should be.

Authorities had ordered police commanders in the country not to participate in any form of eviction before they informed police headquarters.

The move to inform the headquarters was meant to ensure various due diligence measures are taken into account before any action is taken.

Azimio la Umoja One Kenya coalition party leader Raila Odinga, together with Taita Taveta leaders, have since condemned the demolitions that were carried out under the supervision of a contingent of police officers.

“From Mavoko to Kakamega, Thika, and Mombasa and today in Voi, the government seems to be pursuing a policy of evicting people from their settlements using utmost pain inflicted at the most desperate moments," Odinga said in a statement.

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