'DIG Lagat is an excellent officer': MP Barasa defends police from public blame, vows to push for IPOA disbandment

Kimilili Member of Parliament (MP) Didmus Barasa has come out to defend the National Police Service (NPS), claiming that officers are being unfairly targeted and victimized by the public and oversight bodies.

Addressing the media at Parliament Buildings, Barasa warned that the continued scrutiny and criticism of the police could jeopardize national security, as officers might lose morale and interest in combating crime.

“We are witnessing a scenario where everyone has suddenly become an expert on security. People want to dictate who should be arrested and how,” Barasa said.

“If we continue with this trend, our police officers will begin to fear executing their duties, which will inevitably lead to a rise in insecurity,” he added.

Barasa further threatened to sponsor amendments to disband the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA), accusing it of intimidating officers in the line of duty. He argued that the Authority has failed in its mandate and has instead made the work of the police more difficult.

According to the legislator, IPOA—in its current form—serves only to instill fear within the National Police Service (NPS).

“I have set up a team in my office to review these proposals. The amendments will be out soon,” he said. “I will propose to either disband IPOA or restructure it to operate similarly to how Parliamentary committees handle petitions.”

The United Democratic Alliance (UDA) MP accused IPOA of demonizing police officers, particularly in situations involving crowd control and public unrest.

Citing the recent arrest of officers linked to the death of social media influencer Albert Ojwang’, Barasa argued that mistakes in professional fields are common, but only police officers face public humiliation and legal consequences.

“When judges and magistrates make mistakes, we say the learned bench has erred. But when a police officer errs, they are immediately arrested and prosecuted,” Barasa noted. “I have decided to stand up for our uniformed officers who play a critical role in maintaining law and order. IPOA is overstepping its mandate.”

The MP also criticized ongoing public pressure for the resignation of Deputy Inspector General Eliud Lagat, whom he described as an excellent officer. He maintained that calls for his resignation were unwarranted and politically motivated.

Barasa went on to caution protesters against provoking police during demonstrations. He cited a recent incident where a female activist was filmed attempting to unmask an officer during a picket, calling it a security risk.

“There is a reason why officers deployed to protect lives and property are issued with firearms and not buttons,” Barasa said.