Leaders from the National Police Services (NPS) on Tuesday denied claims that police officers abducted and tortured protesters during the anti-Finance Bill 2024 protests.
Addressing journalists during an engagement with the Kenya Editors Guild (KEG), Director of the Directorate of Criminal Investigations Mohamed Amin maintained that his conscience was clear that the law enforcement was involved in the abductions.
He further noted that all arrests in the police service were carried out as per the law and the detainees were held in legal Police Stations.
"We take those we arrest to gazetted police stations. The DCI is not involved in kidnappings. I wish I knew where the missing Kenyans are. Why would I kidnap anyone, and where would I even take them?" Amin wondered while addressing the mainstream editors.
"Some media houses are driving the agenda that the DCI is involved in kidnappings. This is not true. My conscience is clear; I am at peace with myself because I have never been involved in extrajudicial killings."
Separately, Gideon Nyale, Commandant of the Kiganjo Training College, explained that, per the Constitution, police officers were legally allowed to wear civilian clothes even when effecting arrests.
He was responding to concerns from the public that police officers in civilian clothes took part in abductions during the nationwide protests.
"Operation orders are what guide us. We make decisions based on intelligence on the ground. It’s not illegal for police officers to wear civilian clothes; sometimes, they do this to gather intelligence," he stated.
"When orders are given, however, officers must make individual decisions on executing those orders. We use firearms in justifiable circumstances."
In an infamous case of abductions, Amin apologised to veteran journalist Macharia Gaitho who was abducted at Karen Police Station last month. Amin confirmed that it was a case of mistaken identity.
Since the protests kicked off in mid-June, more than 60 people went missing, most of whom are yet to be traced.
More than 24 individuals lost their lives as a result of the protests. Some of the deaths were linked to police brutality.
NPS, however, is committed to working with the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) to solve the cases.
