Police in Igembe South constituency, Meru county, were on Thursday put under shoot-to-kill orders following an edict by a local area chief.
Samuel Mwika Katheru, assistant chief for Kianda sub-location in Kanuni ward, alerted members of the public that his officers would use force to deal with criminals in the constituency.
Mr Mwika asked Administration police officers to shoot dead all criminals within his jurisdiction found using crude weapons to terrorize locals.
The chief is said to have previously issued stern warnings over the use of machetes to harm locals and carry out crimes in the region.
[caption caption="File image of police officers during an operation"]
[/caption]
The administrator revealed that the drastic action was necessary following the tragic murder of a security guard at a Miraa plantation at Kaleine village.
Police investigations indicated that the 38-year-old guard had been killed at a different location before his body was dragged to the farm.
The authorities further urged residents to offer any information they may have that could lead to the arrest of the officials.
Police have in the past come into trouble with human rights organisations over what has been termed as the use of excessive force.
The Kenya Human Rights Commission (KHRC) has in the past used Section 1 Part A of the Sixth Schedule of the National Police Service Act 2011 to defend this position.
The section states: "A police officer shall always attempt to use non-violent means first and lethal force may only be employed when non-violent means are ineffective or without any promise of achieving the intended result."
[caption caption="File image of law enforcement authorities"]
[/caption]
