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By Alan Masakhalia
Kenyan’s have over the years suffered at the hands of corrupt and at times brutal and trigger happy Police Officers who were a law unto themselves.
With the setting up of the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) there was obvious relief to Kenyans as we now had a place to run to when abused by rogue officers, unlike in the past when a police officer would be reported to his fellow colleagues, who would hurriedly discard the complaint immediately you left the station, IPOA had come to address our plight.
IPOA on its part hasn’t disappointed Kenyans, it has among other things ensured that the flawed police recruitment is nullified, it has ensured that trigger happy officers are brought to book hence effectively bringing to a close the era of rampant extra judicial killings, simply put IPOA has been instrumental in stemming impunity in the police force.
It thus comes as no surprise that police officers countrywide are up in arms against IPOA calling for its disbandment, citing alleged harassment!
That police backed by some parliamentarians have hatched plans to strip IPOA of its autonomy and place it under the National Police Service Commission (NPSC) is most regrettable. This is a very ill timed scheme aimed at weakening IPOA and rendering it ineffective in its core task of ensuring police are held accountable and are answerable for their deeds or misdeeds.
I thus call upon all well meaning MPs, who love Kenya and believe in safeguarding citizens essential freedoms to shoot down the Police Oversight Authority (Repeal) Bill, 2014 that is currently before them.
Regards
Alan Masakhalia
Butula Constituency - Busia County
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