Nominated Senator Gloria Orwoba has called for the disbandment of the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA).
Speaking on Thursday, June 12, during an interview, Orwoba questioned the decision by IPOA Chairperson Issack Hassan and the Inspector General of Police, Douglas Kanja, to hold a joint press briefing, arguing that IPOA is meant to operate independently.
The UDA Senator also alleged that the authority’s budget is controlled by the Executive.
“The objective of IPOA is that it’s supposed to have an independent perspective in investigating the police. But when you see IPOA standing with the IG giving a press statement, you start wondering where the independence is because they look like a united front, it is almost as if they are sharing notes.
“IPOA needs to be disbanded. How independent is IPOA because their budget is controlled by the Executive,” Orwoba stated.
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On Monday, June 9, Hassan and IG Kanja held a joint presser at Central Police Station in Nairobi following the death of Albert Ojwang.
In the briefing, Hassan confirmed that IPOA had visited the scene, documented preliminary evidence, and engaged with the deceased's family.
The IPOA Chairperson also noted that he had informed IG Kanja of his plans to visit Central Police Station following Ojwang’s death, and the IG told him they would meet there.
“I had informed the IG that I was going to come to Central Police Station, and then he told he was also coming and we would meet here,” said Hassan.
Ojwang died on Sunday, June 8, in Nairobi following his arrest in Homa Bay over allegations of publishing false information about Deputy Inspector General of Police Eliud Langat.
An autopsy conducted on Tuesday by Pathologist Bernard Midia revealed that Ojwang died as a result of a head injury and neck compressions.
Midia noted that the deceased also had injuries on other parts of the body, pointing to an assault.
