Police boss says 19, not 36 killed during election period

Inspector General of Police, Joseph Boinett insists that the police recorded 19 deaths while disputing an Independent Medico Legal Unit (IMLU) report that claims 36 people were killed during the electioneering period.

A statement from IG signed by Police spokesperson George Kinoti has termed the IMLU findings as misleading and claims that the report was conducted without consultation from the police.

Boinett says; “We condemn this sensational reporting based on falsified figures clearly aimed at tainting the image of the National Police Service. We reiterate we were never consulted prior to the publication of this malicious, sensational and misleading reporting.”

The police statement lists detailed circumstances under which the 19 deaths were recorded by the police, with eleven fatalities recorded between the August 8 and August 11 General Elections period, and a further eight during the repeat presidential poll period of October 25 to October 30.

Most of the circumstances, according to Boinett, indicate violent confrontation between the police and residents of different counties; Nairobi, Kisumu, Homa Bay, Kericho, Siaya, Bungoma, Elgeyo Marakwet and Tana River.

“Inquest files were opened in respect of each case to inquire into the cause of death as required by law,” added the IG.

Boinett also responded to allegations of police brutality saying, “Internal Affairs unit and IPOA are investigating all the instances of excessive force in quelling violet riots, whose outcome will be made public.”

The response from the IG comes after IMLU released a report on November 1, listing 36 deaths over the poll period.

The human rights body, through Executive Director Peter Kiama, had also confirmed that IMLU conducted postmortem on the bodies of those killed, establishing that some people were shot without having necessarily posed a threat to police officers.

“Going by the postmortem reports, there is no clear demonstration that police were shooting to defend their lives or the lives of others,” said Kiama.

IMLU had also said that several other people were injured by police bullets, teargas and beatings and that some were recuperating in hospitals in different parts of the country.