Kithure Kindiki faced the National Assembly’s Appointment committee following his nomination as Interior CS.
One of the tough questions he faced was police brutality witnessed during nationwide protests against the government.
Suna East MP Junet Mohammed asked why he remained silent at the time protestors were killed and forcefully taken by police.
“The reason that I didn’t talk everyday is because the events were mainly operational issues. The work of the Interior CS as envisaged in Article 25 of the Constitution is to give the organs of national security policy guidance and direction,” Kindiki said.
“The police is under independent command. There are only two people who can give IG directives: Interior CS (only on policy issues) and Director of Public Prosecution on matters investigations of criminal activity.”
He added that; “It is unfortunate that during recent protests, we witnessed the deaths of 42 Kenyans, 486 civilians and 285 police injured. We had about 1,387 arrests, 54 police cars destroyed and 110 vehicles also destroyed, therefore I want to say the operational responsibility lies within the National Police Service.
“On a broader scale of things, the police tried their best to protect the country from criminals, arsonists including those who visited Parliament and wanted to kill MPs.
