Inspector-General of Police Douglas Kanja has warned that police officers attached to politicians and other state officials will be withdrawn if they engage in activities that contravene the law.
Speaking in Keringet, Kuresoi South, Nakuru County, where he attended a public baraza alongside Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen and other leaders from the region, Kanja said officers assigned to VIP protection must strictly perform their duties as prescribed by law.
“To the political class and other persons who have been granted VIP protection, if I find the officers being misused, as the Inspector-General of Police, I will withdraw them instantly. Every officer attached to VIP protection must perform their duties as prescribed by law, and those who go against that will be dealt with in accordance with the law,” the IG said.
Kanja’s remarks came days after Democracy for Citizens Party (DCP) leader Rigathi Gachagua accused some UDA-allied MPs from the Mt Kenya region of turning their security details into political tools to unleash terror on citizens perceived to be dissidents, as witnessed during the Ol Kalou by-election.
His remarks were later given credence by an independent investigation by NTV, which revealed that vehicles allegedly used to cause disruption that afternoon were in the hands of aides attached to some legislators and a parastatal chief. The individuals also reportedly attacked journalists who were filming their activities in Ol Kalou.
Earlier, Gachagua had claimed that the attack on him and his allies at Witima Church had been carried out using a similar model and by police officers attached to the same Central Kenya politicians.
“As we speak, the police officers who have been attacking people are the same ones who attacked the church in Mwea. I took evidence to the Inspector-General, including their photographs, names and videos. Instead of being prosecuted, they were promoted, given more responsibilities and more sophisticated weapons, and then deployed to Ol Kalou. These officers have only been transferred because they were exposed,” Gachagua said.
He added that the problem in Kenya was not goons but rogue police officers operating with impunity.
In response to the allegations, Murkomen said on Sunday that the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) had launched investigations into claims that armed goons were present during the Ol Kalou by-election.
“The DCI has opened an investigation file to establish who these individuals are, the crimes they committed, who they harmed and why they were there, so that appropriate legal action can be taken,” the CS said.
Meanwhile, Kanja has directed all police commanders to deal with criminal gangs and goons in their areas of command once and for all.
“They must all go to prison and stay locked up. Any inaction will attract immediate transfers to less demanding regions. We must eradicate all criminals amongst us so that Kenyans can live peacefully,” he ordered.
Comments
Sign in with Google to comment, reply, and like comments.
Continue with Google