Police brutality during protests haunts Kindiki in parliament vetting

While appearing before the National Assembly's Committee on Appointments during the vetting session, Kindiki explained that the police service is an independent office that operates under the guidance of the Inspector General. 

He said that his work is limited to providing policy guidelines to the organs of national security as outlined in the Constitution. 

Kindiki was responding to a query from Suna East MP Junet Mohamed who questioned why the CS remained silent during the Gen Z protests at a time when protestors were abducted and killed. 

"The reason that I didn't talk everyday is because the events were mainly operational issues. The work of the Interior CS as envisaged in Article 25 of the Constitution is to give the organs of national security policy guidance and direction," Kindiki said.

"The police is under independent command. There are only two people who can give IG directives: Interior CS (only on policy issues) and Director of Public Prosecution on matters investigations of criminal activity."

The CS nominee acknowledged the deaths and arrests made during the protests but commended the police for their efforts during the protests. He noted that it is the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) to investigate and prosecute rogue officers who used excessive force. 

"It is unfortunate that during recent protests, we witnessed the deaths of 42 Kenyans, 486 civilians and 285 police injured. We had about 1,387 arrests, 54 police cars destroyed and 110 vehicles also destroyed, therefore I want to say the operational responsibility lies within the National Police Service," he noted.

"On a broader scale of things, the police tried their best to protect the country from criminals, arsonists including those who visited Parliament and wanted to kill MPs."

The Interior CS nominee added that an individual officer should be held liable for their actions and not casting blame to the entire service. 

"The issue of use of firearms by an officer is individual. Any officer has individual responsibility on how to use their firearms. The accountability of Inspect General on the operational order but use of force is an individual responsibility issue," he pointed out. 

Kindiki was the first CS nominee to be vetted in a four-day exercise that seeks to assess their suitability to hold office. The 22 nominees form part of President William Ruto's proposal to form a broad-based government.