Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) is ready to hold former Director of Criminal Investigations (DCI) George Kinoti accountable if President William Ruto's allegations of extra-judicial killings are substantiated.
Speaking on Thursday, January 5, IPOA chairperson Ann Makori stated that the oversight authority was ready to launch a public inquiry into the conduct of the former DCI boss. Kinoti was accused by President William Ruto of harbouring a container used to carry out the vice.
According to IPOA, the public inquiry would take 90 days before a final report is presented addressing the allegations labelled against Kinoti.
"Investigation into general crime is the work of DCI and that is why DCI exists. IPOA will step in and carry out investigations and if we can establish members of the service were involved, then it becomes our responsibility," IPOA chairperson Anne Makori stated.
Explaining the scope of the investigations, Makori noted that the authority was ready to offer witness protection to individuals willing to offer the authority information on confidential terms.
"An inquiry allows people to come forth and those who need confidential cover to give information will be accorded that opportunity," Makori insisted.
However, she lamented that the IPOA was not financially endowed to carry out the investigations regarding extra-killings recorded during Kinoti's reign.
"If we can have the funding that we are seeking, I believe within 90 days we should be able to carry out public inquiries and obviously a lot of work will be in Nairobi and Mombasa," Makori maintained.
IPOA's intended inquiry came on the heels of President Ruto's allegations, where the Head of State revealed that he fired Kinoti over secret executions under his regime.
During a joint interview at State House on Wednesday, January 4, the head of state further confirmed that he had gotten in touch with IPOA and agreed to probe the matter.
"I had a thorough meeting with IPOA and we have agreed that it is not necessary for us to establish another task force when IPOA is there and it is squarely within their mandate to tell us how Kenyans ended up being killed in this manner and it was business as usual," he stated.
Ruto added, "Thirty bodies in Yala, 17 in Garissa, there was a container here at Nairobi area where people were being slaughtered, in a police station… How did we end up there? What kind of rogue institution was that? And that is why I fired that Kinoti man because it’s not right."
After exiting office, Public Service Commission (PSC) announced Kinoti was eligible for redeployment.
