Boinnet termed the claims as reckless and only meant to tarnish the image of the National Police Service/FILE
NAIROBI, Kenya, Apr 7- Inspector General of Police Joseph Boinnet has directed NACADA chairman John Mututho to name senior security officers he claims are protecting rival drug gangs at the University of Nairobi.
Mututho was quoted by a section of media on Wednesday as having linked the recent chaos at the university to fights among the alleged drug cartels operating there.
Boinnet termed the claims as reckless and only meant to tarnish the image of the National Police Service.
“This is unacceptable and we take a great exception to such reckless statements that are not based on facts,” he said.
Mututho has been asked to report to the nearest police station and name the said officers protecting the criminal gangs at the University.
Boinnet however encouraged the public to report any officer breaking the law to the Internal Affairs Unit and the Independent Policing Oversight Authority.
Mututho’s claims came after security officers linked organised gangs to the violence that erupted over a disputed SONU election, which saw the re-election of Babu Owino as the chairman.
Nairobi Police Chief Japheth Koome says several students were found with weapons such as machetes and knives during the elections.
One of the students was arrested on Monday when his vehicle was found with numerous weapons which he was trying to sneak into one of the hostels.
“Our work is to ensure law and order is maintained… we had information that some of the students were armed with crude weapons,” he stated.
Koome said the aim of the probe is to address the causes of such gangs and root out those behind them.
Contestants are often linked to goons during elections that they use to either intimidate their competitors or use them for protection.
Innocent students are always the victims of the atrocities caused by these gangs, who police say, are also used to coerce them into supporting their leaders.
“It is a serious matter currently being dealt with at a higher level,” Koome said. “I am aware that something is happening in regards to that.”
The university has been closed indefinitely after a section of the students vowed to continue protesting.
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