Embakasi East MP Paul Ongili, popularly known as Babu Owino, has called on Inspector General of Police Douglas Kanja to enforce a court ruling that bars police officers from wearing facial masks during protests.
In an official statement, Babu condemned the continued defiance of the ruling issued by Justice Bahati Mwamuye, which declared the use of masks by officers during public demonstrations unconstitutional.
Justice Mwamuye ruled that the use of face coverings by law enforcement officers, especially during protests, violates the principles of accountability and transparency and hinders the identification of state agents when exercising coercive power.
The MP expressed his frustrations that, despite the ruling, officers continued covering their faces during public protests.
“It is unacceptable that despite this judicial pronouncement, certain elements within the police service continue to disregard the law with impunity,” Babu stated.
To ensure that the police remain compliant with this ruling, Babu has called upon Kanja to issue an immediate directive that will ensure the police are following the rule.
“No officer should engage the public in anonymity, especially while wielding force in the name of the state,” Babu continued.
According to the MP, Kenya should not be left to slide back into a culture of faceless repression. Babu emphasised the importance of all Kenyans, including officers, obeying the law.
“The law is clear, and it must be obeyed by all, especially by those entrusted to enforce it,” the MP continued.
Police officers have been spotted covering their faces during public protests while using force to disperse Kenyans. The latest case was witnessed on Thursday, June 12.
During the protests, where Kenyans had taken to the streets to demand justice for Albert Ojwang, who had died in police custody, Shakira Wafula, an activist, approached an officer and forcibly pulled off his mask. The officer was part of a contingent deployed to repulse protesters who gathered in the city.
In videos that made the rounds online, Wafula was seen striving to reach for the cloth covering his face, which she grabbed and began pulling off while the officer tried to block her. She eventually pulled it off and quickly ran away.
The issue of masked police officers gained national attention during the 2024 Gen Z protests, when it was noted that these officers killed some protestors, but identifying them became difficult as they had hidden their faces.
