IPOA says unable to investigate abduction cases

The Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) has stated that it lacks the capacity to investigate cases of abductions in the country, which are widely believed to be carried out by police units.

IPOA Chairperson Ahmed Issack Hassan explained that although Kenyans suspect the police are behind these abductions, the Inspector General of Police has denied any officer involvement.

As a result, IPOA cannot launch an investigation unless the police officially acknowledge that their officers are responsible.

"The IG came out and said they are not our officers...when we have people in hoods abducting people then they don’t take them to police stations but different places, I believe these are issues that the police need to investigate themselves,” Hassan said.

However, IPOA CEO Elema Halake noted that since the abductions began, the authority has attempted to establish a possible link between the police and these disappearances.

Their findings have been submitted to the courts, where several cases are currently underway. He reiterated that as long as the police maintain their stance that they are not involved, IPOA is unable to launch a formal investigation.

"The position of the authority is that the investigations are ongoing and it is a matter that is in court...we have already presented the preliminary findings from our investigations," Halake stated.

"We did send out officers to places where there were abductions, and they came back and said police were not involved," Hassan added.

The authority emphasized that the matter is now before the courts, limiting its ability to comment further until the legal process provides clarity or the police change their position on who is behind the abductions.

These remarks were made on Wednesday during a press briefing in Meru, where IPOA commissioners were visiting their regional offices.

It was here that IPOA officials also highlighted the challenges they face, including a shortage of personnel needed to fulfil their mandate and resistance from the police, who often obstruct IPOA officers when they attempt to conduct disciplinary investigations at police stations.