Amin Mohammed, Director of the Directorate of Criminal Investigations, has reiterated the police's response to the mayhem witnessed on June 25, insisting that only the state enjoys the monopoly of violence.
Amin, while addressing the media during a briefing on Monday, June 30, discussed law enforcers' response to demonstrators amid looting and destruction of property across several parts of the country.
According to the DCI boss, it would be improper for the state to relinquish its constitutional monopoly of force on criminals who masqueraded as protesters.
“The State cannot cede its monopoly of violence to goons,” Amin declared during a press briefing on Monday, June 25.
Amin further alleged that while the protests initially began peacefully, they were hijacked by goons, prompting authorities to respond accordingly.
He went on, "Initially, the demonstration was peaceful, but the entire process was hijacked by goons who resorted to destroying public property. If a member of the public resorts to violence, it becomes illegitimate. It becomes criminal, and we are going to deal with it.”
The DCI boss further revealed a disturbing pattern of coordination to conduct chaos, with intelligence linking the June 25 violence to a well-orchestrated scheme by unnamed individuals.
Over 400 suspects across the country have since been arrested and are set to face a spate of charges ranging from murder, terrorism, rape, arson, obstruction of police officers, breaking and stealing, robbery and robbery with violence, incitement to violence, handling stolen goods, malicious damage to property and possession of illegal firearms.
Amin's statement on the monopoly of violence appeared to subtly back Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen's controversial comments last week. Murkomen, in the wake of the violence on June 25, urged law enforcers to resort to using firearms in the event they feel threatened by goons.
These comments have since landed Murkomen in trouble with the public, who interpreted the CS's sentiments as a blatant 'Shoot-to-kill' order against civilians.
Murkomen has since clarified his sentiments, citing the Sixth Schedule of the National Police Service Act, which dictates the conditions for use of firearms by a police officer.
"My statement was made contextually and consciously with clarity of mind based on the express provisions of the law. No leader, scholar, jurist, journalist, blogger, or opinion shaper has challenged me on the law," the CS clarified.
