Kenya’s opposition leaders have withdrawn from planned talks with Inspector General of Police Douglas Kanja and announced plans to pursue private prosecutions against 12 police officers and two Members of Parliament over alleged misconduct during recent protests.
In a joint statement, the opposition accused the National Police Service of failing to take meaningful action against officers implicated in what they described as excessive use of force, unlawful arrests, and violations of constitutional rights.
They claimed that attempts to engage the Inspector General in dialogue had yielded no concrete commitments toward accountability, prompting their decision to seek legal redress through the courts.
The move to initiate private prosecutions signals an escalation in the standoff between opposition figures and the security establishment.
Under Kenyan law, private citizens can institute criminal proceedings if they believe state agencies have failed to act, subject to oversight by the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP).
Opposition leaders further alleged that the two MPs targeted in the planned legal action played a role in mobilizing or endorsing actions that led to unrest and subsequent crackdowns.
They insisted that accountability must apply uniformly, regardless of rank or political affiliation.
The development comes amid heightened political tensions in the country, with growing calls from civil society groups for independent investigations into the conduct of security agencies during public demonstrations.
It is likely to test the boundaries of private prosecution and the broader question of police accountability in Kenya.
Leave feedback about this