Inspector General of Police Japheth Koome has told police officers not to be intimidated by Azimio’s letter to the International Criminal Court (ICC) on Friday.
Koome urged his officers to discharge their duties without fear even as Azimio asked the court’s prosecutor to investigate the National Police Service for violations of human rights during recent demonstrations.
“I want to tell members of the National Police Service, do not be intimidated by the letter. Serve our country, the Kenyan people and foreign visitors without fear,” he said.
Speaking at his residence in Kangundo, Koome said police officers took an oath to serve the country without fear or favour.
“We do not have another country to serve but Kenya. Kazi yetu tutaifanya (we will do our job),” he added.
His comments come hot on the heels of remarks by Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua who said the government would protect Koome from intimidation by the Opposition.
Speaking in Nyandarua County on Saturday, Gachagua accused the opposition of trying to intimidate and harass Koome for doing his job.
Azimio La Umoja One Kenya Coalition wrote to the office of the prosecutor at the ICC on Friday seeking investigations into the political situation in Kenya.
Azimio has documented what it termed as crimes committed by the state during the demos, singling out Koome as the main culprit.
In the letter, Azimio accuses Koome of committing eight serious crimes.
The coalition claims that the police IG established a special squad of rogue police officers to unleash terror on its supporters during the demos.
“The squads are reported to be dressed in plain clothes, to operate outside the normal command structure and to take direction directly from select commanders appointed for that purpose by Japheth Koome,” Azimio said.
The coalition also said that Koome abrogated the constitutional rights of its members by unconstitutionally and illegally banning the demos.
Azimio added that the police IG threatened its members with death and physical injury should they attempt to exercise the said rights.
