The National Police Service (NPS) has responded to a viral video showing a police officer carrying laptops from a looted shop during protests on Tuesday, June 17.
In a statement on Wednesday, June 18, the NPS explained that the laptops were part of property recovered after several shops were broken into.
"NPS wishes to clarify that following recent protests in Nairobi, several shops were broken into and various items were stolen. Police officers arrested one suspect and recovered four laptops, which are now in safe custody as exhibits at the Central Police Station, Nairobi," the statement read.
The police urged affected business owners to come forward and assist in identifying the recovered property.
"We therefore urge anyone whose premises were broken into and had laptops stolen to visit the station to identify the recovered items," the NPS added.
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Additionally, NPS reassured the public that further steps are being taken to bring those involved in criminal activities during the demos to justice.
"Meanwhile, an investigation is ongoing to identify and arrest those involved in the criminal activities during the protests," the statement concluded.
Meanwhile, the Law Society of Kenya (LSK) has demanded that NPS makes public the name of the officer who shot Boniface Kariuki, a mask vendor in the CBD.
In a statement, LSK noted that the service had not identified the cop in their earlier statement, further challenging the police to demonstrate that disciplinary action had been taken against the officer.
LSK President Faith Odhiambo explained that the demands were necessary as action against the cop would be a deterrent to other officers.
"We shall not dance to the piper over a statement that is not only ambiguous but also fails to take responsibility for the criminal conduct of the officer in question. From the Statement by the National Police Service, there is no evidence that the officer has been indicted for his heinous crime.
"We demand that the officer's name, identity, and service number be disclosed, and that he be prosecuted promptly. He must be treated as the face of Impunity and criminality within the Police Service, and his ultimate punishment must serve as a lasting deterrent for all officers who undermine and violate their constitutional duties," the statement read in part.
