IG statement an insult, says family of slain protesters

A family that lost their two sons during the anti-government protests in Kisumu slums termed Police Inspector General Japheth Koome’s statement over those killed in the demos – as an insult.

The family said it did not expect such a statement from the police boss who Kenyans rely on to bring to book the rogue police officers who killed their sons.

The family of John Akhala spoke from Esianduma village in Luanda Sub-County just a day after the Morticians and Allied Professionals Association of Kenya (MAPAKe) criticised Koome over the same claims and demanded an apology.

Collision course

The statement set Koome on a collision course with Azimio coalition leaders, a section of Kenyans and the human rights organisations.

They have demanded that Koome substantiates his sentiments by ensuring anyone culpable faces the law, failure to which he should withdraw his remarks.

The family of John Akhala from Esianduma village in Luanda Sub-County yesterday accused the IG for trying to sanitise the killings and covering-up the police officers who used excessive force to brutally claim the lives of the innocent Kenyans.

The family of Akhala that lost their two sons, Brian Oniang’o 22 and William Amulele 24 during anti-government protests in Kisumu termed Koome’s statement as quite unfortunate.

The family that is crying for the justice of their sons who died while undergoing treatment at the Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Teaching and Referral Hospital accused the IG for trying to cover up the rogue police officers who killed their sons.

Akhala says his sons were beaten by the police officers who raided their house in the Nyalenda Estate during the anti-government protests.

The two brothers were sharing the house and their father says they were not part of the protestors.

“We are totally disappointed and shocked with Koome’s statement. My sons were beaten by the police officers who raided their house in the Nyalenda Estate during the anti-government protests,” said Akhala.

“They succumbed to injuries while receiving treatment at Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Teaching and Referral Hospital,” he added.

Philip Oniango, brother to the slain men, said, “what the inspector general is saying is total effort to cover-up the police officers who executed the illegal killings”.

Oniang’o appealed to relevant authorities to intervene and help them and other affected families get justice.

The morticians on Wednesday faulted Koome over his claims labelling them unfair to their profession.

They also reiterated their commitment to adhering to moral ethics and the rule of law.

“We condemn the statement made by the Inspector General of Police Mr. Japheth Koome because we believe that no mortuary technician in the Kenya of today can even attempt to do such a thing,” said the association.

 “We work very closely with the police service in our day-to-day operations and believe that this position we are taking is very well known to the Inspector General,” they said.

Substantiate sentiments

They demanded Koome to substantiate his sentiments by ensuring anyone culpable faces the law, failure to which he should withdraw his remarks which they say taints their image and profession.

They further demanded Koome to furnish both Kenya Health Professions Oversight Authority and Kenya Medical Practitioners and Dentist Board; the two registering, regulating and licensing bodies of mortuary technicians and the mortuary facilities respectively with the particulars of those implicated for investigation.

MAPAKe said they are regulated by the law under the Kenya Health Professions Oversight Authority (KHPOA), adding that their ethical guidelines emphasise the respect of the dead.