Silverio Omari
Charles Owino, Chairperson of the Council of the Kenya Institute of Mass Communication (KIMC) and former Police Spokesperson, has emphasized that officers from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) cannot operate in uniform as it goes against their standard procedures. His remarks follow a High Court order directing officers to avoid concealing their identities and faces during demonstrations.
Owino explained that the DCI’s modus operandi involves using unmarked vehicles and operating in civilian clothes, making it impractical to require them to wear uniforms. “You cannot stop the DCI from operating the way they do. You cannot ask them to wear uniforms when they are used to working in civilian attire,” he stated during an appearance on Citizen TV’s Daybreak show.
He further noted that DCI officers, who often concealed their identities while carrying firearms and using unmarked Subarus during recent protests, were deployed to apprehend criminal elements infiltrating the demonstrations. These officers have been implicated in a series of abductions in the city.
“If criminals are involved, it sometimes necessitates the involvement of DCI officers in supporting riot management by identifying and apprehending such individuals,” Owino said. “In these cases, they will use unmarked cars and will not wear uniforms, as this aligns with their standard procedures.”
Owino also expressed the view that the Law Society of Kenya (LSK), which petitioned the court, is primarily concerned with addressing its own interests, particularly regarding the accountability of those involved in abductions. “The petition serves the interests of those who believe there were abductions and that the police should not have been involved,” he remarked.
In recent months, the LSK has been vocal in condemning police brutality during protests, including arrests and forced disappearances. Led by President Faith Odhiambo, the society has been advocating for the unconditional release of all protestors in police custody.
“We have been pushing for the negotiation of bail and bond terms to secure the release of all detainees. Unfortunately, we have faced violence, and at one point, a police officer even attempted to assault me,” Odhiambo recounted in a past interview.
Recent data from the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights (KNCHR) indicate that 66 protestors have been reported missing, and 60 people have died during the protests. Meanwhile, the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) is intensifying its investigation into questionable police conduct during the protests and is seeking to hold top police commanders accountable, including the then-acting Inspector General of Police Douglas Kanja and Nairobi Police Commander Adamson Bungei.
Dj Vnyash
