President Ruto Petitioned To Establish Coroner General’s Office

NAIROBI Kenya July 17, 2024 -The Interior Ministry has recommended to President William Ruto to initiate the process of establishing the Coroner General’s Office to investigate deaths, including those resulting from police action.

According to the Internal Security Principal Secretary Dr Raymond Omollo, the office which has been established by the National Coroners Service Act 2017, will improve the accuracy, transparency and reliability of death investigations.

Dr Omollo on Tuesday also said the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) has the power to investigate and recommend the prosecution of police officers involved in misconduct and unlawful acts and was already conducting some probes.

“IPOA is already conducting independent investigations into several allegations of alleged police misconduct, killings and reported enforced disappearances,” he said.

The government has also directed police and all security officers to exercise restraint during peaceful protests and use of non-lethal force to ensure public safety.

The PS said while the police are guided by the National Police Service Act which prohibits the use of excessive force in the execution of their duties, Section 49 of the Police Service Act allows them to use force only when it is necessary and to the extent required in the execution of their duties.

“The police can indeed be compelled to use reasonable force when isolated and specific scenarios of protests escalate to criminalities including rioting, looting and burning of properties, disruption of traffic through erection of road blocks on major highways and invasion of critical and protected infrastructure,” he said.

He further warned that though the respect for the sanctity of human life and the security of property is not negotiable, it was unfortunate that acts of lawlessness arising from infiltration of peaceful demonstration had resulted into the current prevailing security situation.

“What began as an expression of divergent opinion over the financial vision for the country has tragically escalated to a situation where we are sadly counting the number of lives lost, value of property destroyed and families deprived of livelihoods,” he said.

The government has also deployed more security personnel in hotspots and areas where security for critical infrastructure is prioritized.

To improve public communication and in line with the Public Order Act, police will be issuing advisories on areas of deployment, official protest zones, areas cordoned off and contact persons to be reached following notification by organizers to enhance and ensure the peaceful conduct of public gatherings.