The Independent Policing Oversight Authority has condemned a traffic incident in Mombasa whereby a driver ran over and killed a traffic police officer while attempting to evade a traffic security check.
In its statement on Tuesday, February 28, IPOA called upon the Inspector General of Police, Japhet Koome to conduct a thorough probe into the matter even as it sent its condolences to him, members of the National Police Service, the family and friends of the officer.
“Bearing in mind that the incident in Mombasa occurred on Monday (February 27), and all avenues for investigations may not have been exhausted, we recommend to the IG that such an enquiry should be broadened with a view of unearthing the underlying factors into a dangerous trend where attacks on law enforcement officers is becoming common.
“A life lost by unnatural causes is one too many and we, therefore, urge the IG to unravel all circumstances that may be contributing to the worrisome pattern of hostility between the police and some members of the public,” IPOA stated in part.
IPOA further condemned in the strongest terms possible actions of those in communities who whenever aggrieved by actions of law enforcers, result in taking the law into their own hands, adding that such callous actions result to loss of lives, property and livelihoods.
“In equal measure, we condemn in the strongest terms possible actions of those in our communities who whenever aggrieved by actions of law enforcers, result to taking the law into their own hands,” Makori stated.
“Such callous acts result in loss of lives, property and livelihoods. Over time, IPOA has made various recommendations to the National Police Service arising from its monitoring operations, including traffic management… Some of the recommendations if implemented will contribute towards mitigating potential assaults against police officers on traffic management duties in future.”
