DCI bows to pressure, issues apology for using wrong photos of chaos during Maandamano rally

In a social media post on Saturday, DCI said, "The Directorate of Criminal Investigations wishes to unreservedly apologize to the public for the mix-up of images in yesterday’s communication, which was meant to appeal for information regarding the whereabouts of criminal suspects involved in Monday’s illegal demonstrations."

The DCI pushed part of the blame on citizens, saying, "The mix-up was partly occasioned by the overwhelming information that we had received via the #FichuakwaDCI online platform regarding the reported incidents of violence. While we work towards rectifying the same and maintaining public confidence in our operations, the Directorate continues to appeal to the public for information regarding the whereabouts of the suspects whose images appear below. #FichuakwaDCI 0800 722 203."

On Friday, the DCI released a series of images ostensibly unmasking the individuals it described as criminals who took advantage of the protests to destroy property and attack innocent members of the public and police officers who were on duty.

However, some of the images used were from previous protests, some from as far back as 2008 and one was not even in Kenya.

In one of the images in question, protesters are seen to be scampering for safety amid chaos, however, a search of the image reveals that the image was from protest in Burundi and was used in an article on Al Jazeera titled ‘‘Hundreds arrested’ in Burundi amid political unrest’ in 2015.

In another photo, a man is seen aiming a teargas cannister at an unknown target. However, the image appears to first have been used in 2008. 

On Friday the DCI said it has launched a manhunt for culprits behind chaos on Monday.

Earlier on Saturday, Azimio la Umoja One Kenya Alliance co-principal Martha Karua castigated the DCI for releasing the wrong images and linking them to the Azimio maandamano protests.

In a series of tweets, Karua opined that by posting the images, the DCI had shot itself in the foot and lost the trust of Kenyans. 

"The DCI can no longer be trusted to police or investigate fairly after the deliberately misleading photos debacle exposed by the media," she said. 

She added that the agency owed Kenyans an apology "for using deception tactics in an attempt to manipulate the Azimio protests" and portray them in a bad light. 

"We salute the many police officers who continue to maintain proffessionalism and to show great restraint, while reminding the few bent on breaking the law instead of upholding it that they will be held to account individually."

According to the DCI, during the Monday protests led by Azimio party leader Raila Odinga, property of unknown value was destroyed while a total of 33 officers suffered injuries of various degrees and are currently hospitalised.