IG Boinet warns police officers sympathetic to terrorists

Inspector General of Police Joseph Boinet has warned police officers who are sympathetic to terrorists, saying that they will face dire consequences should they be caught.

Speaking at the GSU Training School in Embakasi, Nairobi during an inter-police agency First Aid Competition, Boinet said they have no information of any police officer linked to terrorism – but the force would not hesitate to act should they find terrorist sympathisers in the force.

His remarks come after the Kapenguria incident where a police officer killed 6 of his colleagues in an apparent attempt to rescue a terror suspect who was behind bars.

The IG says the police have heightened vigilance to avert terror attacks within the country; he also asked the public to collaborate with security agencies in the fight against terrorism.

At least seven police officers were killed in a hostage situation that lasted for over nine hours at the Kapenguria Police Station in West Pokot County on Thursday.

The Recce Squad was deployed to the police station to deal with the situation, and after hours of standoff with the shooter, they killed the officer alleged to have shot at his colleagues in a bid to rescue the gunman.

The Recce unit also lost one of its members during the shootout.