The Ministry of Interior has recommended the establishment of the Coroner General’s Office.
In a statement sent to the newsrooms on Tuesday, July 16, the Ministry asked President William Ruto to initiate the process of forming the office.
The ministry noted that the office would ensure accountability and transparency in cases of suspicious deaths.
“The Ministry has recommended to His Excellency, the President, to initiate the process of establishing the Coroner General’s Office as per the National Coroners Service Act 2017 to investigate deaths, including those resulting from police action. The Coroner General’s Office will also ensure accountability and transparency in cases of suspicious deaths,” read the statement in part.
Meanwhile, the Interior Ministry said that the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) is conducting independent investigations into allegations of police misconduct, killings, and reported enforced disappearances during the recent anti-government protests.
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“All arrests made in any part of the country are subject to the Criminal Procedure Code that spells out how arrests are executed, and detention and trial of suspects. Anyone aggrieved by police actions is welcome to seek redress through our established criminal justice system, including the courts,” the ministry stated.
Further, the Ministry of Interior pointed out that Security agencies are under instruction to exercise restraint during peaceful protests and use non-lethal force to ensure public safety.
However, the ministry said that officers can use reasonable force when protests escalate.
“The police can indeed be compelled to use reasonable force when isolated and specific scenarios of protests escalate to criminalities including rioting, looting and burning of properties, disruption of traffic through the erection of roadblocks on major highways and invasion of critical and protected infrastructure,” the ministry added.
The statement comes after Kenyans returned to the streets to protest against the Kenya Kwanza government.
The protests were witnessed across major towns and cities in the country including Nairobi, Mombasa, Kisumu, Kisii, Kericho, Migori, and Kakamega.
Other areas were Kitengela, Baringo, Mlolongo, Machakos, Kilifi and Bungoma.