JKUAT: Probe on police officers begins after video elicits outrage

JKUAT: Probe on police officers begins after video elicits outrage

Investigations into police officers who were caught on camera assaulting students from Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT) have begun.

The Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) on Tuesday morning expressed disapproval over the excessive force used on students who were protesting insecurity at the campus.

“IPOA condemns in the strongest terms possible yesterday’s incident in which members of the National Police Service were caught on camera assaulting students from JKUAt,” the authority said in a statement.

The oversight agency further called on witnesses who saw the assault to record statements at the ACK Garden Annex office on 1st Ngong Avenue.

They can also do so through telephone numbers (020-4906000 or 0773999000) or email info@ipoa.go.ke

IPOA has also lodged complaints with the Interior CS Fred Matiang’i who has said he will support investigations and the findings for further direction.

Though police are allowed to use force including firearms as per the National Police Service Act 2011, IPOA expressed its disappointment at the unprofessional manner in which the police deployed their public order mechanisms during the operation.

On Monday, police officers deployed to JKUAT after students went on the rampage were under fire after numerous videos went viral showing some officers assaulting them.

In one of the videos, three officers are seen beating up an unarmed student on the ground.

They are seen kicking him on the head twice as he raises his hands above his head trying to protect himself from their blows.

Another batch of officers, in a second video, are seen breaking down the gates of a students apartment and then firing tear gas canisters to smoke them out.

In yet a third video, a lone policeman is seen running outside one of the hostels as he fires at students presumed to be ahead of him.

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JKUAT IPOA

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