MPs Challenge Ipoa on Protest Deaths and Abductions.

The Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) faced tough questions from MPs regarding its role in supervising the National Police Service during a recent appearance before the Constitutional Implementation Oversight Committee (CIOC).

Committee members, led by Githunguri MP Gathoni Wamuchomba, raised concerns about the state of policing in Kenya, questioning IPOA’s effectiveness. They highlighted several issues, including difficulties in integrating the Administration Police with the Kenya Police Service and increasing incidents of public attacks on officers.

The most pressing issues discussed were the alleged excessive use of force during peaceful protests, the illegal raiding of homes by masked officers, and the abduction of citizens. Wamuchomba noted, “We have recorded 61 deaths from the Gen Z protests.”

Wamuchomba further criticized IPOA for its inability to arrest or convict those responsible for these abductions, deaths, and human rights violations. “What has IPOA done?” she asked.

IPOA’s response—that they only have nine regional offices and are dealing with numerous cases—was met with skepticism. Roysambu MP Augustine Mwafrika questioned IPOA’s commitment to oversight, asking, “Isn’t your mandate to oversee the police on behalf of the public? Why doesn’t IPOA seem to be actively addressing the recent atrocities in the country?”

The Committee also expressed dissatisfaction with IPOA’s communication strategy, especially during the Gen Z protests and the reported abductions. Members were particularly troubled by reports of masked police officers conducting illegal home raids. Ipoa defended itself by highlighting that cases often involve a ‘multi-agency approach,’ which can obscure the identities of the officers involved and complicate efforts to take action.

Ipoa’s chief executive officer, Elema Halake, expressed hope that the police service would comply with a High Court ruling aimed at ending such practices.

Ipoa also advocated for the creation of an independent forensics lab to prevent evidence tampering and biased results. The recommendation, supported by the Maraga Taskforce, stressed that the lab should operate independently from the authority to ensure credibility.

Additionally, the session addressed the poor housing conditions for police officers, with MPs describing their living situations as “pathetic” and in urgent need of improvement.