The National Police Service has issued an official statement in regards to the Saba Saba anniversary demonstrations held on Monday, July 7.
The Police Service, through an official presser commended it’s officers for demonstrating exceptional restraint and professionalism while handling Kenyans commemorating the historic moment.
“The NPS also commends it’s officers for demonstrating exceptional restraint and professionalism in the face of sustained violence and provocation by criminals who infiltrated the protests and encourages anyone with information about individuals involved in criminal activities who are still at large to come forward and share that information by reporting to the nearest police station,” NPS stated.
In the same statement, the National Police Service also lauded Kenyans for being law abiding citizens and heeding to the call to maintain law and order during the demos.
NPS did not leave out the fact that some Kenyans engaged in the acts of lawlessness that involved multiple criminal acts including attacks on law enforcement officers and looting.
“NPS commends the majority of Kenyans for being law abiding and heeding to the call to maintain law and order. However, certain individuals remained determined to engage in acts of lawlessness that involved multiple criminal acts including attacks on law enforcement officers and looting.” The statement read in part.
The NPS admitted that indeed there were fatalities and injuries including some meted on its officers.
The statement disclosed that both civilians and police officers were injured during the demos with a number of fatalities reported.
According to the NPS there was 11 fatalities , 11 injured Kenyans, 52 injured police officers and 567 arrests.
Property was also destroyed, including 12 police vehicles, 3 government vehicles and 4 civilians’ vehicles.
NPS assured Kenyans that each and every incident will be subject to further investigation in accordance with the law.
The latest turn of events comes barely hours after KNCHR issued it’s official statement, strongly condemning police brutality during the protests in question.
The human rights’ commission, through an official presser sighted by Nairobi News noted with great displeasure that it had documented ten fatalities and 29 serious injuries perpetrated by police during the demos.
That is not all, KNCHR also disclosed that there were two cases of abductions and 37 unwarranted arrests across 17 counties.
The commission went on to fault the police for barricading various major roads and entry points, severely disrupting movement of people in most towns such as Nairobi, Kiambu, Meru, Nyeri, Nakuru, Kisii and Embu.
This, according to KNCHR inconvenienced many citizens who were unable to report to work and conduct their businesses.
The aforementioned was contrary to a directive issued by the Cabinet Secretary for Public Service, Geoffrey Ruku on Sunday, July 6, requiring all civil servants to report to work without fail.
Countless businesses countrywide remained closed due to fest of looting and destruction of property.
Nairobi News understands looting incidents were reported in six counties with Kerugoya Central CDF office set ablaze by goons.
KNCHR also noted that learning was paralysed across the country as most schools and educational institutions remained closed during the Saba Saba anniversary demonstrations.
In addition, the commission also faulted the NPS for disregarding the High Court orders demanding all police officers managing demonstrations to be in their official uniforms and remain identifiable at all times during the demos.
It was noted that most officers who hit the streets covered themselves in hoods and face masks making it difficult to differentiate them from goons.
Wrapping up the official statement, KNCHR condemned the attack on its Nairobi offices on Sunday, July 6, believed to have been perpetrated by hired goons who brutalised staff and innocent members of the public who were lawfully exercising their constitutional rights to assembly and expression.
