The Mountain Journal
Kirinyaga Governor Anne Waiguru has rushed out at the Independent Policing
Oversight Authority (IPOA) for failing to reign on police officers alleged to be involved in
abductions of innocent Kenyans.
Waiguru said recent wave of abductions allegedly being undertaken by people
suspected to be police officers was giving the government a very bad image and
therefore making it hard for leaders supporting the current administration to defend it.
The Governor claimed IPOA had failed in its mission to promote accountability and
professionalism in the National Police Service (NPS) by allegedly allowing rogue police
officers to continue perpetuating acts of abductions.
“I have said this several times and even the President has called for a stop to these
abductions. IPOA must do its work, because you are making our work very difficult to
defend the government if abduction becomes the news every day,” she said.
She said the agency must investigate and bring to book, police alleged to be involved in
abductions and enforced disappearance of innocent Kenyans so as to arrest the
situation.
Waiguru said IPOA must be held to account for allegedly failing in its duty of providing
for civilian oversight over the work of the police in the country.
She said abductions and other acts of indiscipline have no place in our society and must
stop because they were hurting families.
“As a mother, I can never be on the side of abductions, I can never be and there is no
one in this Government who can support abductions,” she said.
The Governor said IPOA has all necessary tools to help investigate and bring to book,
police alleged to be involved in abduction and enforced disappearance of Kenyans.
Terming abduction as unlawful, violation of human rights and inhumane, Waiguru
warned that the issue of abductions was providing a campaign fodder to the opposition
and called for a stop to the acts of lawlessness.
“IPOA, do your job, abductions are not part of this government and I can never be party
to abductions. There are those who want to use this issue of abductions as a campaign
tool, on our part, we are campaigning for this Government peacefully and we know
people will listen to us,” she added.
