Conclude investigations into police killings before issuing statement, Murkomen tells IPOA

Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen has told the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) to conclude investigations into alleged police killings during the June and July protests before issuing statements that appear to indict the police.

His remarks come in response to an IPOA statement alleging that police used disproportionate force during the demonstrations, resulting in 65 deaths.

He was speaking Saturday in Kabarnet, in Baringo County, during the 21st Jukwaa la Usalama County security tour.

To restore security in Baringo, especially Tiaty, which is the most bandit-hit constituency, seven new police stations will be built by December.

Murkomen urged the locals, including the Tugen, Pokot, and Turkana, to learn to live together in peace despite the location they find themselves in.

Communities aggrieved by acts of banditry were also warned against arming themselves to retaliate.

It was also revealed that Baringo is among the counties with the most adults without national identification cards, standing at 161,000.

“Baringo County has 161,000 people of adult age without IDs. This denies them many crucial services and opportunities. We shall work with leaders to take advantage of our reforms, which include free issuance for first-time applicants and our new Live Capture Unit technology, which is speeding up the processing of IDs”, he revealed.