The National Police Service (NPS) on Tuesday, August 15, refuted emerging reports of truce talks between the Inspector General of Police Japhet Koome and former Prime Minister Raila Odinga.
NPS flagged the reports as false and misleading, urging the public to disregard the articles published by a section of the media.
According to the police, the official communication for such developments would be made through their verified communication channels, including their social media pages.
Reports of Koome - Raila talks emerged days after the duo differed publicly over statements made by the former, alleging that the opposition hired bodies to garner sympathy during protests.
Notably, prominent figures from Azimio, including Vihiga Senator Godfrey Osotsi, were among the leaders who claimed that plans for the talks between the police and the opposition were underway.
Osotsi alleged that Koome wanted Azimio to make a u-turn on its plans to report him to the International Criminal Court (ICC).
“Koome has approached some Azimio lawmakers, asking them to plead with Baba not to implicate him at the ICC,” Osostsi claimed during a funeral in Luanda on August 12.
Azimio plans to take legal action against the police boss for alleged brutality meted on protesters, especially those from the lake region, during the anti-government demonstrations held last month.
The opposition claimed that 70 people were killed during the demos, with most of them succumbing to gunshot wounds and tear gas fumes.
To exert pressure on the police, Azimio held a memorial service for the deceased on Friday, August 11, in Siaya and Vihiga counties and demanded the resignation or ouster of IG Koome.
Despite the condemnation, IG Koome insisted that he would proceed in his role and further reiterated that the opposition hired bodies from the mortuary to seek sympathy. However, he did not provide any evidence to substantiate his claims.
"It is so unfortunate that some senior members of the society go to the mortuary hiring dead bodies, calling the media and telling them that these people were killed by the police. How low can some of our leaders sink?" he wondered.
President William Ruto, his deputy Rigathi Gachagua and other pro-government politicians vowed to protect Koome from the opposition.
