The four police officers who were on Monday caught on video camera assaulting university students have been interdicted even as the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) established that 22 students suffered injuries during the fracas.
In a press statement sent to newsrooms, the IPOA Chairperson, Anne Makori said the Authority has made contact and taken statements from key eyewitnesses of the incident where 50 police officers were involved in the operation to quell rampaging Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology students who were protesting insecurity in the area.
“Based on these preliminary findings, the Authority now advances the matter into a full independent investigation with a view to unravelling all the facts of the matter,” said Makori.
She further stated that the investigation findings will be applied against provisions of various sections of the National Police Service Act, 2011, which provide for the use of force, firearms, and responsibilities of senior officers, disciplinary offences, the Service Standing Orders and any other laws of Kenya.
The Chairperson said findings will inform appropriate recommendations to the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions, the National Police Service Commission, the National Police Service and any State Agency to effect criminal attention through the Courts or disciplinary mechanisms if misconduct is established.
“IPOA assures Kenyans of utmost commitment to its mandate through undertaking independent, impartial and fair investigations,” said Makori.
IPOA on Tuesday launched investigations into the alleged incident in which National Police Service officers brutally assaulted JKUAT students who were protesting over lack of security saying they were being mugged at night by thugs.
They said lack of security has resulted to the deaths of their colleagues.
By Bernadette Khaduli
