Sunday, July 9, 2023 –Cabinet Secretary Interior, Kithure Kindiki, has warned sections of police officers who are using excessive force against demonstrators.
Speaking in a security meeting with locals held on Sunday, July 9, 2023, in Tharaka Nithi, as seen in a video on our desk, the CS noted, with concern, that a few officers were applying force in dealing with peaceful protests.
He added that he had already received a report of some police offices who were being used to harm un armed demonstrators.
“There are a few individuals using excessive force in our department and this cannot be allowed.
“If civilians have nothing in their hands and are peaceful, let them do what they want to do; they will leave in the evening,” he advised.
Prof Kindiki added that police officers’ main duty during protests is to secure the protesters as well as other Kenyans and, if possible, to escort them home after the exercise.
Kindiki’s assertions comes barely a day after former Chief Justice Dr. Willy Mutunga was teargassed outside Central Police Station in Nairobi where he had gone to secure freedom of dozens of civil society activists.
Dr. Mutunga who was in the company of their lawyers were seen scampering for their safety as police threw teargas towards their direction.
About 35 members of different lobby groups had been arrested in the City’s Central Business District where they were peacefully picketing against the rising cost of living.
This saw human Rights Activist Boniface Mwangi also call out the police based at Central Police Station, Nairobi.