Silverio Omari
During his confirmation hearing before the Senate and National Assembly joint security committees, Police Inspector General nominee Douglas Kanja was deeply affected by the events of June 25th, when demonstrators breached the parliament. Committee members grilled Kanja on how the police were overwhelmed and how demonstrators gained access to a supposedly secure area.
Kanja, who had been serving as Deputy Inspector General and Commandant of the General Service Unit since 2018, described the incident as the “lowest point” of his career. Kisumu Senator Tom Ojienda asked, “Were you pleased with the invasion of parliament?”
Gabriel Tongoyo, co-chair of the committee, questioned, “How could such an incident occur without basic fire engines to manage the situation? Was it a matter of laxity or lack of preparedness?”
Kanja responded, “We were fully prepared, having dealt with similar issues before. However, the scale of the demonstration was unprecedented—Thika Road and Kiambu Road were blocked, and even accessing water for the water cannons was challenging.”
He defended the police’s handling of the situation, saying, “I believe we managed the demonstrations as best as possible, ensuring that the country’s security was not compromised. Now we are here, and the situation is under control.”
Kanja acknowledged the need for improvement in handling demonstrations to prevent breaches of secure areas. He also addressed concerns about excessive force, pledging that extra-judicial killings would not be tolerated. “No country can condone extra-judicial killings. We have oversight bodies to address excessive force, and ongoing investigations into the recent demonstrations show that misuse of force will not go unpunished,” he assured.
Wajir Woman Representative Fatuma Jehow questioned why police officers were not in proper uniform during the operations. “Why were officers not wearing police uniforms and covering their faces? What steps will you take to address this?” she asked.
Homa Bay Town MP Peter Kaluma added, “The lack of uniforms led to confusion and unlawful actions. What will you do to ensure that officers adhere to regulations?”
Kanja responded, “This is a serious issue that I will address. I will ensure that uniforms are worn as per regulations and will advocate for accountability in the police service.”
Dj Vnyash
