The Directorate of Criminal Investigations has distanced itself from claims of abducting and torturing protestors during the nationwide protests that rocked the country a few weeks ago.
During and engagement with the Kenya Editors’ Guild, DCI boss Amin Mohammed said that those who were arrested were also taken to gazetted police station and not anonymous places as widely reported in the media
“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?”
“Some media houses are driving the agenda that the DCI is involved in kidnappings. This is not true. My conscience is clear; I am at peace with myself because I have never been involved in extrajudicial killings,” Amin said.
At the same time, Kiganjo Training College Commandant Gideon Nyale noted that police are allowed by the constitution to effect arrests even when in civilian.
“Operation orders are what 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,” he stated.
“When orders are given, however, officers must make individual decisions on executing those orders. We use firearms in justifiable circumstances.”