The National Police Service (NPS) confirmed on Tuesday, March 21, that 31 police officers were injured during the Azimio mass protests in Nyanza and Nairobi.
According to the Inspector General of Police, Japhet Koome, 24 officers were injured in Nairobi, while the remaining seven were from Nyanza. Property destruction was also recorded, as well as the death of one protestor in Maseno.
IG Koome added that the police were forced to use force to prevent the protesters from accessing Central Business Districts of Nairobi and Kisumu, resulting in the arrest
“We wish to inform the public that during yesterday’s demonstrations, we arrested 25 people, while 7 Officers were injured in Nyanza; while in Nairobi, 10 Police Vehicles were damaged, 24 Officers injured while persons arrested were 213,” read the statement in part.
The IG noted that the protest quickly turned violent, with protesters engaging in running battles with anti-riot police officers and barricading roads, hindering freedom of movement for law-abiding citizens.
“We, therefore, condemn in the strongest terms possible, the unwarranted violence that was meted against our Officers discharging their official duties.”
Koome also commended the police saying, “Our Officers executed their national security mandate professionally; upholding the rule of law and utmost respect for human rights.”
Koome stated that the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) had launched an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the police officers’ injuries.
