Nairobi, August 8, 2023 - Inspector General of Police, Japhet Koome, has made shocking allegations against the opposition Azimio La Umoja One Kenya Alliance coalition, claiming that they orchestrated a scheme involving hiring deceased individuals from mortuaries, falsely attributing their deaths to police brutality during the recent Azimio demonstrations.
Allegations of Manipulating Deaths
In a startling revelation, Inspector General Japhet Koome accused the Azimio coalition of resorting to unethical tactics by allegedly hiring dead bodies from mortuaries, fabricating the causes of their demise, and subsequently presenting them as victims of police brutality during the recent protests that rocked Kenya.
"We’ve seen in the recent past, and very unfortunate, senior members of society are going to mortuaries, hiring dead bodies, calling the media, and telling them that they were killed by police officers. How low can some of our leaders sink?" IG Koome expressed with evident frustration.
The Ongoing Narrative
The Azimio La Umoja coalition had organized interdenominational memorial services in late July 2023 to honor individuals who reportedly lost their lives during opposition demonstrations. Azimio accused the police of employing excessive force, leading to severe injuries and fatalities among protestors. The opposition claimed that over 50 people lost their lives in the mid-July 2023 protests, sparking widespread condemnation.
Videos emerged depicting instances of police engaging in physical altercations during the demonstrations, further fueling the opposition's claims. Members of Parliament aligned with the opposition shared images of bodies in morgues, asserting that these individuals had been killed by police officers. While the police categorically deny these allegations, human rights activists maintain that several casualties bore gunshot wounds after the protests.
The United Nations echoed concerns about the escalating violence and alleged disproportionate use of force by police officers during the demonstrations. It called for a thorough investigation into the deaths that occurred amid the protests.
Commitment to Upholding Security
Inspector General Koome reinforced the police's commitment to maintaining law and order and protecting the nation's citizens and property. He stated, "We have a duty to serve our beautiful country… We cannot allow what is happening in neighboring countries to happen to our country. We've no spare country. This was the country we were given by God."
As the allegations and counter-allegations continue to circulate, the authenticity of the claims and the truth behind the events remain subjects of intense scrutiny, adding complexity to an already charged political landscape.