Kindiki: We will prosecute high level officials for attempted coup

By Peter Ochieng

Interior Cabinet Secretary (CS) Abrahm Kithure Kindiki has maintained that the anti-government protests in June and July were an attempt to overthrow President William Ruto from power.

Speaking when he met members of the National Assembly Committee on Administration and Internal Security, to respond to various questions on homeland security, Kithure said despite a breach of Parliament on June 25, police acted swiftly to prevent the country from descending into anarchy.

He warned that high level officials will soon be prosecuted, for allegedly having a hand in the ‘attempted coup.’

"We are going to prosecute high-level officials who financed the protests, organised for other people to harm Kenyans, loot property, and even invade a serious institution like the Parliament of the people of Kenya," the former Tharaka Nithi Senator told legislatures.

"If the police had not used lethal force during the invasion of Parliament, we would not have the Kenya we know today," he added.

He informed the Narok West MP Gabriel Tongoyo led committee that the government does not have a policy on extrajudicial killings, abductions, or enforced disappearances, in response to a question on whereabouts of Kenyans who reportedly went missing during the protests.

Police have been accused of abducting Kenyans seen to be on the frontline during the demonstrations.

“Any acts that are contrary to the law are investigated by Independent Police Oversight Authority (IPOA) and the Internal Affairs Unit of the National Police Service (NPS) and appropriate action taken against any security officer found culpable,” said the CS.

He insisted that the government policy on transfer of 42,500 police officers who have served in one station for more than three years is irreversible, and non-negotiable.

So far, Kindiki said, 26,000 police officers have been transferred to new stations, adding that the exercise is ongoing. Kindiki said that 42 people died during the protests, with over 100 reported missing.

However, the figures are lower than those reported by human rights organisations.