Three officers interdicted over Nairobi killings
Three of the policemen caught on camera on Wednesday as they executed three suspects on Lang’ata Road in Nairobi have been interdicted.
Internal Security minister Prof George Saitoti said on Thursday the three were temporarily relieved of their jobs to allow for investigations and possible prosecution.
Any others found to have been involved in the incident captured on camera, and published by the Daily Nation, will also be dealt with in accordance with the law.
The minister however warned criminals, saying the ministry would not relent in dealing with them firmly and in accordance with the law.
He cited the recent spate of crimes against police officers; the shooting of a deputy Police boss in Shauri Moyo, grenade attacks on the District Commissioner’s vehicle in Eastleigh and the shooting of two officer at a roadblock in Kasarani.
The Wednesday morning incident appeared to confirm a long-held belief that police officers routinely execute suspects, but Prof Saitoti was hard-pressed to explain that this may not be the case.
“We have to admit there are a few rotten eggs there (in the Police Force) and we shall get rid of them,” said Prof Saitoti.
“Don’t judge the police on the basis that two or so of them have misbehaved,” he added, and encouraged Kenyans to submit more evidence of the wrongdoings of the police for action to be taken.
He was accompanied at the Press conference by assistant minister Orwa Ojodeh, Permanent Secretary Francis Kimemia and Police Commissioner Mathew Iteere.
Prof Saitoti said there is a great deal of advocacy and training for Police to understand and uphold the Bill of Rights, with numerous workshops and training on the matter.
“Things have changed, and they are going to change. No officer has the right to use his firearm carelessly,” said the minister.
He said such incidents would in future be handled by the Police Oversight Authority, an independent body that would be established with the enactment of a Bill currently being handled by the Commission on the Implementation of the Constitution.
These have been developed by the Police Reforms Implementation Committee, which is headed by Kenya Airways Chief Executive Officer Titus Naikuni.
Prof Saitoti said the reforms of the force, soon to be renamed the Kenya Police Service, would include a new curriculum to be taught from the next Police intake.
Police would graduate with training on human rights and community policing, among other courses that would change the way they work with ordinary citizens.
