Kalonzo Calls for IG Koome’s Resignation After Protester Deaths
Kalonzo Musyoka, the leader of the Wiper party, has called for Inspector General of Police Japhet Koome to step down from his position.
Addressing the crowd in Siaya on Friday, Kalonzo emphasized that he cannot evade responsibility for the fatalities occurring during the Azimio demonstrations.
“The only way he can get away with this is to resign. Even if he resigns, it is not enough. We have been in demonstrations before, but this time it was a war not tear gas. They wanted to finish our people and Raila Odinga,” he claimed.
Kalonzo stated that the police were unsuccessful in apprehending troublemakers during the conflict at Pipeline.
“He has not made arrests and yet he was heard talking about the invasion of northlands and no one has been apprehended as well. Who can trust Koome?” he posed.
“I got away with it in Mathare, what we saw were not the normal lorries we know. I don’t believe police team brutality should be in the dialogue team. It should be addressed separately.”
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Kalonzo expressed the view that Koome’s integrity has not been upheld successfully.
“My advice today, if there is rule of law in Kenya then the president can also sack him,” he said.
He commented that Kenya is a country experiencing instances of police brutality.
“He does not qualify to be the Inspector General of police. How can he say politicians hired bodies?” he said.
Koome stated on Tuesday that the police shouldn’t be held responsible for purported extrajudicial killings that occurred during the protests against the government in mid-July. She claimed that the opposition actually obtained corpses from morgues and falsely accused the police of shooting the demonstrators.
The Azimio coalition organized protests from July 19-21 to express their dissatisfaction with the increasing expenses of daily life and the elevated tax rates.
The assertions were rejected by the morticians’ association, which stated that their activities are guided by ethical principles. These principles primarily include maintaining the confidentiality of the deceased, being considerate of their emotions, and upholding the deceased’s entitlement to grieve for their loved ones without disturbance.
Kalonzo Calls for IG Koome’s Resignation After Protester Deaths