A section of the civil society has called on the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) to invoke its powers under the Constitution and recommend the dismissal from office of the Inspector-General (IG) of Police, Japheth Koome.
The Kenya National Civil Society Centre (KNCSC) said that the EACC under the Public Officer and Ethics Act, and the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission Act can recommend the removal from office of Koome for his unethical and unsubstantiated claims that families mourning their loved ones killed through police brutality during protests against the high cost of living between church and July 2023 hired dead bodies from morgues to create the impression that they had been killed by the police.
KNCSC Executive Director Suba Churchill in a statement to newsrooms indicated that the Inspector General chose to make the unfortunate statement a few days before the planned burial of some of the victims of the unprecedented extra-judicial, arbitrary and summary execution of protesters across the country by police officers under his command is not only insensitive, callous and heartless but also unethical and lacking in integrity required of him as a State officer under Chapter Six of the Constitution of Kenya.
“Chapter Six of the Constitution of Kenya, Article 73 provides that authority assigned to a state officer is a public trust to be exercised in a manner that is consistent with the purposes and objects of the Constitution; demonstrates respect for the people; brings honor to the nation and dignity to the office; and promotes public confidence in the integrity of the office,” he explained.
He added that as a state officer, the Inspector General is supposed to demonstrate selfless service based solely on public interest and demonstrated honesty in the execution of his duties to the public.
“It is now evidently clear that the unprofessional, dishonorable and improper utterances by the IG are inconsistent with the purposes and objects of the Constitution, demonstrating his utter lack of respect for the people of Kenya that he is supposed to serve with utmost objectivity, neutrality and nonalignment,” said Churchill.
He added that rather than bring honor to the nation, promote public confidence and dignity to the Office, the IG‘s sloppy, slapdash and unethical utterance has, to the contrary, served to bring the Office of the Inspector General of the National Police Service in the Republic of Kenya to disrepute, public scorn and ridicule for which the current and holder Japheth Koome must be held to account and removed forthwith in public interest and the rule of law.