Matiang’i ‘Seeks Forgiveness’ Following Killing Of 4 By Police In Kajiado, Promises Speedy Investigations

KAJIADO, Kenya, Jun, 3 – Interior Cabinet Secretary Dr. Fred Matiang’i has sought forgiveness from the families and community of four people that were allegedly killed by police officers in Masimba, Kajiado county.

According to preliminary reports, the four were gunned down during protest over increased cases of human-wildlife conflict at the Masimba trading Center. Police are said to have fired live bullets at the crowd.

“We are here because of sorrow following what happened here, as a government we are disgusted by what happened,” said Matiang’i. 

The CS said that investigations into the incident have already kicked off in earnest and that the officers found culpable will face the full force of the law.

“I want to seek forgiveness as a government officer, as a human being, as a leader, and even as a parent, I have come here to apologize for what happened here, it is very wrong and we should not have a situation where we lose our people in such a way, it is an embarrassment and very wrong,” he said.

Matiang’i told residents during a meeting with area governor Joseph Ole Lenku as well as high ranking security officers including the Inspector General of Police Hillary Mutyambai, Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) Director-General Brigadier John Waweru, and even Rift Valley Regional Commissioner Mohammed Mallim among others that president Uhuru Kenyatta had also condoled with the families of the deceased and directed that justice is served at the same time stating that victims of human-wildlife conflict are compensated as soon as possible.

The Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) has already kicked off investigations into the incident where seven other people were also injured and admitted to the hospital.

A Rapid Response Team from IPOA has been dispatched to the area with instructions to obtain all information that may be relevant in unveiling the circumstances surrounding the incident.

“In line with the provisions of the IPOA Act Section 7 (a)(x), which dictates that deaths and injuries occasioned by actions of the police be investigated by the Authority, and Section 5 of the Sixth Schedule of the National Police Service Act which compels the police to report all deaths, serious injury and other grave consequences to the Authority for investigations, a Rapid Response Team was this morning 3 rd June 2022 dispatched with instructions to obtain all information that may be relevant in unveiling the circumstances surrounding the incident,”

The authority is expected to make recommendations after the conclusion of the investigations which is not limited to the prosecution of the officers involved.