Potential trouble for senior Coast region police officers
Inspector General of police Japhet Koome has recalled a section of senior police officers from the Coast region.
Mr Koome, on Saturday, January 6, 2023, recalled the Coast region police commander, Taita Taveta County police commander, and Voi Sub-County police commander to Nairobi following a violent land eviction.
The eviction left over 3,000 people homeless, which attracted an uproar in the manner in which the whole exercise was carried out.
Already, an internal inquiry has kicked off to ascertain the circumstances that led to the eviction.
“Investigations into the eviction have kicked off and those who ordered it if found guilty will be charged even through the courts,” said Mr Koome.
Nairobi News has established that the demolition took place without the police bosses in Nairobi being informed.
According to police protocols, engaging in such actions is unlawful and is subject to punishment.
The eviction saw more than 3,000 families within Msambweni area spend the night in the cold following the demolition of thousands of houses.
The eviction attracted the attention of opposition leader Raila Odinga who is currently at the Coast and who condemned the whole exercise.
He urged the government to act compassionately and avoid inflicting suffering on the people.
“From Mavoko to Kakamega, Thika, and Mombasa and today in Voi, the government seems to be pursuing a policy of evicting people from their settlements using utmost pain inflicted at the most desperate moments,” Raila said in a statement.
He further added, “At daybreak today, over 3000 residents of Msambweni in Voi were invaded by a contingent of police officers escorting a demolition squad that has so far brought down several homes on a disputed piece of land.”