IPOA registers 10 complaints of unlawful arrests and abductions during protests

The Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) is probing 10 complaints of unlawful arrests, abductions, and disappearances.

On Friday, IPOA Chairperson Anne Makori highlighted that the incidents involve members of the public, including participants in the recent anti-Finance Bill protests.

She added that most of the reports alleged that the police were behind the abductions.

"It is alleged that the aforementioned unlawful arrests, abductions, and disappearances are committed by members of the National Police Service," Makori stated.

From Nairobi, abduction cases were recorded by Dr Austin Omondi, activists John Frank, Drey Mwangi, Shadrack Kiprono, Osama Otero, Lesile Muturi, and Gabriel Oguda, who serves as a policy analyst at the minority leader's office.

The other case involved Joshua Okayo from Kajiado County.

In the above cases, all the victims were found alive but alleged to have been harassed and tortured. However, IPOA reported that it is unable to access more victims who have yet to record their cases.

"IPOA therefore requests victims and any other relevant eyewitnesses to come forward and record statements to facilitate speedy investigations of these allegations," Makori said.

Missing and dead persons 

The authority revealed that Joseph Mwangi from Nairobi is still missing and urged relevant eyewitnesses to record statements to facilitate speedy investigations.

The late JKUAT student Denzel Omondi's body was discovered on July 6, 2024 floating in a deserted quarry in Juja, Kiambu County. (Photo: Denzel Omondi)

Denzel Omondi, a third-year Quantity Survey student at the Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT), was found dead in a quarry in Juja on July 6.

Omondi went missing at the onset of the anti-Finance Bill protests in Nairobi.

IPOA attended the post-mortem, which revealed that he died by drowning. The autopsy conducted Tuesday at the Thika-based General Kago funeral home further showed that the 23-year-old had bruises on the back of his head and legs.

The authority requested police documents and is seeking CCTV footage and photographs to aid in its investigation.

In an incident in Isiolo involving Mukhtar Tache Ali, Nura Abdi Diba, and Issa Osman, IPOA is appealing for eyewitness accounts and any other information, including CCTV footage, to aid in investigations.

In addition, the IPOA is urging anyone with information about these cases to come forward.

"We request victims and any other relevant eyewitnesses to come forward and record statements to facilitate speedy investigations of these allegations," Makori emphasised.

To provide information, the public can call the IPOA toll-free at 1559 or 0204906000. IPOA also offers an anonymous reporting platform for those who wish to maintain their privacy.

The Chairperson assured that IPOA remains dedicated to conducting its investigations with independence, impartiality, fairness, and neutrality.