Lobby groups call for a national audit of police armoury following Citizen TV exposé

NAIROBI, Kenya, Apr 20- 15 lobby groups have called for a probe on the claims of police hiring out their uniform, handcuffs, and firearms to criminals, following an exposé by Citizen Television.

The organisations led by the Independent Medico-Legal Unit, Usalama Reforms, and Amnesty International-Kenya have proposed a myriad of measures to be taken, for the truth to be unearthed and those involved brought to book.

They have called on the Administration and National Security Committee of the National Assembly to conduct a public inquiry into the matter of the alleged police criminality, as highlighted in the exposé.

Further, they want the Internal Affairs Unit to “immediately conduct thorough and impartial investigations of the alleged police misconduct with a view of bringing the culprits to book.”

Also, in the list of demands, is an independent national audit of the police armoury system of movement of firearms and ammunition within the Service, to be led by Inspector General of Police Hillary Mutyambai.

“The Police Reforms Working Group has taken note of a documentary aired on Citizen TV on April 18th, 2021 christened “Guns Galore”. The exposé revealed how rogue police officers promote crime by hiring their police operating gears: guns, uniforms, bulletproof vests, and handcuffs to criminals for as low as Sh1000,” reads the statement.

“The Police Reforms Working Group (PRWG-K) strongly condemns these criminal activities within the security sector, which undoubtedly degrade safety and security across the country. Indeed, according to various reports by the Internal Affairs Unit and the Independent Policing Oversight Authority continue to reveal police involvement in criminal activities”

The police headquarters is yet to react to the exposé, that put the National Police Service on the receiving end of Kenyans.

Director of Criminal Investigations George Kinoti was however expected to issue a statement on Tuesday afternoon, though it is not yet clear whether he will touch on this.

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