By The Weekly Vision
The Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) has summoned over 50 police officers to address allegations of deaths, serious injuries, and other unlawful acts linked to the Finance Bill 2024 demonstrations and the Azimio protests of 2023.
More than 15 senior police commanders, including Bungoma County Police Commander Francis Kooli, have been directed to report to IPOA detectives. In response to the summons, the Kenya Police Service headquarters instructed the officers to meet with their legal representatives for a briefing before their IPOA appearance. A letter signed by Elizabeth Marube on behalf of the Deputy Inspector General confirms: “Legal officers from this headquarters will meet with the concerned officers at the Regional Headquarters on September 16 for a briefing prior to their appearance at the Authority offices on the respective dates.”
In the Western region, Commander Kooli, Kakamega County Police Commander Lucy Kananu, Bungoma South Police Commander Wilson Muraya, Kakamega Central Police Commander, the General Service Unit (GSU) officer in charge of the Kakamega State Lodge, and the officer in charge of the Akichelesit Anti-Stock Theft Unit (ASTU) are among those listed for investigation.
On August 30, IPOA informed the Deputy Inspector General of the Kenya Police Service that it is finalizing investigations into the deaths and injuries that occurred in the Western Region during the Gen-Z and Azimio demonstrations in 2024 and 2023. The IPOA’s investigation revealed that several police officers were involved in operations leading to these deaths and serious injuries.
Section 7(1) of the IPOA Act grants the authority the power to requisition documents and summon any serving or retired police officer to provide relevant information for its investigations. Consequently, IPOA has requested the police boss to ensure that 21 specific officers appear before the authority for interviews and statement recording. Senior officers from Nakuru have already been questioned regarding incidents, including the shooting of K24 TV journalist Catherine Wanjeri.
Commander Kananu, for instance, is expected to provide certified copies of police operation orders for June 25, July 2, and July 23, along with all OB entries, police signals, Arms Movement Registers, and details on ammunition allocations.
On June 25, Reagan Ouko and Caroline Shiramba were fatally shot, and Daniel Chimoita, Loise Mulefu, and Joseph Mwanza were seriously injured in Kakamega County. On July 23, Daniel Wanje and Decembers Shivachi were killed, with seven others suffering severe injuries. Kananu is also required to submit a list of all vehicles and motorcycles, including their registration numbers and work tickets.
IPOA has previously warned that senior police commanders could face criminal charges if the investigations do not identify the officers responsible for shooting protesters. Challenges faced by IPOA include non-cooperation from police commanders, witness interference and threats, and a lack of credible witnesses.
In October 2022, the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) made history by holding 12 police commanders accountable for the death of Baby Pendo in Kisumu in 2017, marking the first application of the concept of command responsibility in Kenya. The ODPP found that the attacks were perpetrated by or under the authority of senior police officers, who were also implicated in various other offences such as torture, rape, and sexual violence.
