Deputy President Kithure Kindiki has denied any responsibility for the murders that happened during the Gen Z protests.
Speaking on Thursday, 19 December 2024, during a joint media interview with journalists, the Deputy President said that he sees no reason to take responsibility for the incidents since the law governs the actions taken by law enforcement in response to violence.
"The violent protests that took place earlier this year unfortunately resulted in the loss of lives, some of which occurred due to police action," Kindiki said
"I see no reason to take responsibility for these incidents, as the actions taken by law enforcement in response to violence are governed by the law," the DP continued.
Kindiki, who was then serving as the Cabinet Minister for Interior, alleges that his role as the Interior CS, as stipulated in the constitution, entails providing policy guidance to the organs of internal security.
According to Kindiki, the role of police operations is protected through the mandate of independent command of the Inspector General.
Therefore, police operations, especially those involving protestors or people seen as breaching the peace, are the province of the independent command of the Inspector General of the National Police Service.
Distancing himself from the murders, Kindiki said that the Interior Minister has no role in police operations, and as far as he was concerned, he was not to be blamed.
Defending the excessive use of force by the police that was witnessed during the protests, Kindiki detailed that police are allowed to use force including lethal force in exceptional circumstances.
Kindiki, however, clarified that any officer exits the parameter of the constitution they are on their own and the interior ministry does not take accountability.
“Any police officer who uses their firearms lawfully within the constitution including lethal force has the protection but any of them who exits the parameter of the constitution is on their own and the organs of accountability is not the interior minister is the agencies such as IPOA and DPP and the rest,” the DP added.
A report by Amnesty International and the KNHCR revealed that over 60 Kenyan youths lost their lives during the protests.
