Police Spokesperson Charles Owino has accused the media of demonising the police service as widespread outrage mounted over officers' conduct while enforcing the dusk-to-dawn curfew.
Speaking on Citizen TV 's DayBreak on Monday, March 30, Owino stated that the media's portrayal of officers working the curfew shifts was unfair
"I don't think its fair to simply just discuss the wrongdoing of the police because the limits that I have is that we have institutions that deal with this," asserted Owino.
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The police spokesperson provided that the negative media coverage only set the public against the police which was destructive.
"I would take it that you are simply pitting the public against the police. The police have done a very good job except for the few cases where we saw indisciplined officers taking actions that were not appropriate," stated Owino.
Owino voiced his call for a more objective view of the police working the curfew stressing the importance of a balanced coverage.
"I think it's fair to strike a balance. Yes it's good to show the wrongdoing but it's also important to show the good that the police have done," stated the spokesperson, adding. "It is important for you to talk to the public so we don't pit the public against the police."
The police spokesperson called into question what he viewed as the media's hesitation to show the violence perpetrated by civilians against the police.
"For example, you have not shown the vehicle that the public damaged at the ferry, you have not shown the public who beat police" he stated.
Owino explained that while he was not justifying police action, the public had to take into account the age of the officers.
"Some of these officers are very young, so if you beat him up, I'm not saying it's right, but he'll beat you back," Owino explained.
The spokesperson argued that some of the acts of police brutality could be linked back to provocation and if that was the case, the media needed to highlight both aspects.
"It's fair to hit a balance, it's fair for you to show the things that the public has done. They destroyed police vehicles, abused police officers and beat them, why provoke these young officers?" Owino questioned.
Owino argued that the focus was meant to remain on the Coronavirus but the media had elected to focus on the police instead.
"Policemen don't come from the moon, it's good to be fair, what we are discussing here is Corona," stated Owino.
The reporting, which he termed unfair, only demonised the police as he put it.
"Your interest is to demonise the police and its not right to take that kind of approach."
The use of excessive force by the police from the onset of the curfew on Friday, March 27 prompted a statement of condemnation from the Independent Police Oversight Authority (IPOA).
In a statement on Saturday, March 29, IPOA chairperson, Anne Makori, asked the police to conduct themselves professionally as they enforce the curfew.
"The Inspector-General of Police should bring to the attention of all operation commanders that public order management behoves the police to conduct themselves professionally and within the confines of the law,” provided Makori.
