IPOA decry lack of funds in investigations, says seeking external help to investigate Ojwang murder

The Independent Policing Oversight Authority has protested lack of funds to enhance their operations.

IPOA chairman Isaak Hassan said they have had to seek for external help to investigate the death of teacher Albert Ojwang yet they have capacity to handle the case.

“To contextualise, IPOA had to request for external technical support in retrieval and analysis of the DVR footage from Central Police Station, yet it owns a modern Cellebrite equipment that can do this.

This equipment could not be used because the licence is expired and has not been renewed because of lack of funding.”

And to enhance its effectiveness, IPOA appealed for support to enhance technical capacity building, operational budget, and funding for awareness creation and technical equipment.
He however said IPOA is dedicated to conducting investigations with impartiality, as it delivers its mandate of holding the police accountable, and working towards the attainment of the provision of Article 244 of the Constitution.

The authority is handling dozens of cases including the murder of teacher Albert Ojwang.
He said the Authority monitored police conduct during protests convened to demand for justice for Ojwang’.

“Arising from the monitoring, IPOA recorded at least 13 serious injuries including the shooting of Mr. Boniface Mwangi Kariuki who is hospitalised under intensive care.

Besides the unfortunate death of Mr. Ojwang’, there have been many deaths attributed to police action and in police custody.”

“Yesterday’s point blank shooting of Mr. Kariuki highlights the professional policing gaps that have to be bridged in public order management and adherence to the rights of arrested persons,” said Hassan.

He added the ixth Schedule of the NPS Act outlines the conditions for the use of force by police officers, with specific attention to deaths and serious injuries which it obligates the NPS to report to IPOA.

This has not been done, he said.
IPOA called on the Inspector General of Police to ensure full compliance with all legislative frameworks in place to procure public confidence and trust in the Service.

Following the shooting of the face mask vendor, two police officers identified as Police Constable Klinzy Barasa Masinde and Police Constable Duncan Kiprono were arrested and nterdicted and are currently being processed by the Homicide Team, DCI Headquarters, pending further action.

Kariuki is recuperating in stable condition at Kenyatta National Hospital in Nairobi following successful surgery.

“The National Police Service (NPS) deeply regrets this unjustified act and commiserates with the victim and his family, while reaffirming its full commitment to ensuring justice is served,” spokesman Michael Muchiri said.

Other agencies including the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights (KNCHR) recorded 22 casualties during the Tuesday demonstrations calling for justice in the murder of Ojwang’.
KNCHR Vice Chairperson Dr. Raymond Nyeris revealed that out of the 22 casualties, the majority of the injuries range from gunshot wounds, head cuts, whip lashes, blunt trauma and asthma attacks after inhaling teargas.
The victims were admitted to various hospitals.
KNCHR condemned the chaos witnessed during the protests held in Nairobi, Mombasa, Kilifi and Kwale counties, pinpointing the deployment of masked goons to infiltrate the demonstrations.
“The commission condemns the arrest of protestors including four human rights defenders in Mombasa, despite being peaceful and having duly notified the police in line with the law,” the statement read in part.

“The commission calls for the immediate and unconditional release of the protestors. The KNCHR commends the majority of the protestors for being peaceful despite attacks and provocation by the police and hired goons.”

KNCHR also castigated the police officers who concealed their vehicle registration plates and faces with masks, contravening the recent High Court ruling that ordered all officers assigned to handle protests to be in official uniform and remain identifiable at all times.

“When those charged with maintaining law and order break the law with such impunity, they encourage citizens to disobey the law,” the statement said.

The statement comes amid a public outcry for justice over police brutality witnessed in the past weeks.