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IG Koome recalls police bosses after Voi demolitions

Inspector General of Police Japhet Koome. (Photo: File)

By Farhiya Hussein | Sunday, January 7, 2024

An internal inquiry has already been initiated to uncover the circumstances that led to this eviction.

Inspector General of Police Japhet Koome has taken action after recalling a group of senior police officers from the Coast region.

He summoned the Coast region police commander, Taita Taveta County police commander, and Voi Sub-County police commander back to Nairobi following the land eviction in Voi, Taita Taveta County.

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The eviction resulted in over 3,000 people being left homeless, sparking widespread outrage over how the operation was conducted.

An internal inquiry has already been initiated to uncover the circumstances that led to this eviction.

Mr Koome emphasised that investigations into the eviction are underway, and those responsible, if found guilty, will face legal consequences.

Notably, the demolition occurred without the knowledge of the police leadership in Nairobi, violating established police protocols.

More than 3,000 families in the Msambweni area endured a night in the cold after their houses were razed during the eviction.

The situation caught the attention of opposition leader Raila Odinga who is currently in the Coast region.

Raila condemned the entire exercise and called on the government to act with compassion avoiding unnecessary suffering for the affected people.

In his statement, Raila expressed concern about the government's approach to evictions, stating,

"From Mavoko to Kakamega, Thika, and Mombasa, and today in Voi, the government appears to be pursuing a policy of displacing people from their settlements, inflicting severe pain during their most desperate moments." He specifically highlighted an incident in Msambweni, Voi, where over 3,000 residents woke up to a contingent of police officers escorting a demolition squad that had already destroyed several homes on a disputed piece of land.