Police Leadership Denies Involvement in Abductions Amid Anti-Finance Bill Protests

Top officials from the National Police Service (NPS) have staunchly denied allegations that police officers were involved in the abduction and torture of protesters during the recent nationwide demonstrations against the Finance Bill 2024. Speaking during a press briefing with the Kenya Editors Guild (KEG) on Tuesday, Director of Criminal Investigations Mohamed Amin dismissed the accusations, asserting that all police actions were conducted within the bounds of the law.

Amin addressed the growing concerns, stating, "We take those we arrest to gazetted police stations. The DCI is not involved in kidnappings. I wish I knew where the missing Kenyans are. Why would I kidnap anyone, and where would I even take them?" He further condemned what he described as misleading media narratives implicating the DCI in extrajudicial activities, affirming, "My conscience is clear; I am at peace with myself because I have never been involved in extrajudicial killings."

The controversy comes amid rising tensions in the country, with many accusing the police of using excessive force and unlawful tactics to suppress dissent. Responding to public outcry over reports that officers in civilian clothes were seen participating in the abductions, Gideon Nyale, Commandant of the Kiganjo Training College, clarified that the practice is legally sanctioned under certain circumstances.

"Operation orders guide us. We make decisions based on intelligence on the ground. It’s not illegal for police officers to wear civilian clothes; sometimes, they do this to gather intelligence," Nyale explained. He emphasized that the use of firearms and force by officers must be justified and within the law.

In a notable incident that has fueled the debate, Amin issued a public apology to veteran journalist Macharia Gaitho, who was abducted at Karen Police Station last month in what Amin described as a case of mistaken identity. This apology, however, has done little to quell the concerns of those who believe that the police are overstepping their bounds.

As the nation grapples with these accusations, the NPS's assurances are likely to face further scrutiny, with human rights groups and the public demanding greater accountability and transparency from law enforcement agencies.