NAIROBI, Kenya, Dec 16 — Inspector General of Police Japhet Koome has slammed the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) for criticizing police officers who err while executing their mandate but keep mum when the same officers are killed in the line of duty.
Speaking Friday during the memorial service of the fallen officers from the National Police Service and the Kenya Prisons services at the Administration Police Training College (APTC) Embakasi Campus, the IG urged the officers to use their firearms to defend themselves, if their lives or the lives of civilians were threatened.
“Officers, we don’t want to hear you’ve been hurt, your hand cut yet you have a gun with you. Count on the IG to stand with you. We have a committed CS. Do not be cowed by the busybodies who keep on calling for the arrest of police officers. Today we are mourning and I don’t see them anywhere,” he said.
The IG emphasized that the police will not back down in its attempts to crack down on criminal elements trying to terrorize civilians, urging security officers around the country to use their service weapons in accordance with the law and without fear or intimidation from any party.
He singled out an incident at Mombasa Road where he said police transporting money were shot at using arrows saying they had a right to defend themselves.
“We will not be intimidated or cowed, we are going to discharge our mandate as stipulated in the constitution of this country,” Koome stated.
His sentiments were echoed by Interior Cabinet Secretary Kithure Kindiki who emphasized the importance of officers using their firearms whenever necessary to defend themselves and citizens from criminals.
Kindiki promised to stand by those officers who use their weapons in the above circumstances and in accordance with the law
“As directed by the IG, we will support our security officers, they must use their firearms to protect themselves and, the citizens as well as property.”
The Interior CS also criticized the human rights organizations for also condemning the officers when they make mistakes but remaining quiet when slain by criminals.
“Two months ago, we lost 8 officers and a chief in one of the locations in Turkana East. Eight officers were gunned down by criminals. I did not hear the kind of voices I usually hear when a police officer misuses a firearm which is a very rare occurrence,” Kindiki said.
“It is as if police officers are supposed to wait and be killed It is as if a police officer is supposed to wait until members of the public are killed by criminals,” he added.