Hiiraan Online
Saturday April 1, 2017
A screen grab of an alleged plain-clothes police officer shooting a suspected Super Power gang member in Nairobi's Eastleigh area.
Nairobi (HOL) - The head of Kenya’s police oversight agency has ordered an investigation into the brazen killing of two alleged gang members by police officers in the Nairobi suburb of Eastleigh.
Inspector General Joseph Boinett of the Independent Policing and Oversight Authority (IOPA) has said that the officers involved in the daytime extrajudicial killing of civilians must be identified and arrested.
"IPOA has dispatched its Rapid Response Unit to investigate the incident with a view of establishing circumstances of the shooting. If there is culpability ensuring that responsible face the full force of the law," said Mr. Boinett.
On Friday, video footage of alleged plainclothes officers shooting dead two suspected gangsters - in broad daylight and in plain view of the many shoppers that crowd Eastleigh’s streets - went viral and drew both condemnation and praise for the officer's actions.
Nairobi Police Chief Japheth Koome said that at least one of the suspects was wanted multiple violent robberies and for the murder of two police officers in nearby counties. He added that the suspects were members of the “Superpower Gang” vowing to continue his fight against armed criminals who kill police officers.
“Tell all gangsters out there that when they kill an officer I am ruthless and they will get it from me,” said the police boss.
The results of the IPOA investigation will be handed over to the director of public prosecutions with recommendations.