Charles Owino Defends Police Use of Live Bullets During Protests: “Give Police Power To Bite”
Former National Police Service (NPS) Spokesperson Charles Owino, now chair of the Kenya Institute of Mass Communication (KIMC) Council, has justified police use of live ammunition during protests.
In an appearance on Citizen TV’s Daybreak show, Owino argued that police officers are permitted to shoot when demonstrations escalate to property destruction, particularly when critical infrastructure is at risk.
Owino highlighted that police are trained to manage protests with procedures tailored to different situations.
He elaborated, “We were traditionally trained to start with a proclamation asking the crowd to disperse. If they don’t, we use teargas. If resistance continues, teargas and batons are used.”
“But when property is being destroyed, the situation necessitates the use of firearms.”
Addressing the suggestion of using rubber bullets, Owino remarked, “Will rubber bullets be effective? We need to be realistic. Police need the authority to act decisively. We were trained to target ringleaders if necessary. If a situation is dire, you aim at the identified ringleader and fire.”
He underscored that police always aim to minimize casualties.
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“These are the procedures, and they are implemented. The goal is to limit casualties as much as possible, but this is challenging if we don’t adhere to the law,” he added.
Commenting on the recent breach of Parliament by anti-Finance Bill protestors, Owino emphasized that in such instances, police must use additional force to control the situation.
“When individuals invade Parliament, especially aiming for an armory, decisive action is required. We must follow the law to maintain order, or risk descending into chaos,” Owino concluded.
Owino’s statements follow significant criticism of the government for the deaths of protestors during the ongoing anti-government demonstrations, now in their third week.
The Kenya National Commission on Human Rights reported on Monday that 39 people have been killed in the protests.
The national rights body also noted 32 cases of “enforced or involuntary disappearances” and 627 arrests of protestors.
Charles Owino Defends Police Use of Live Bullets During Protests: “Give Police Power To Bite”