The Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) has provided updates on the investigations into police brutality witnessed during the anti-finance bill protests in June last year.

This follows a BBC exposé that highlighted the protests against the Finance Bill 2024 and emphasized the importance of police accountability.

In its update, the Authority revealed that so far, out of the 60 death cases registered, it had completed 22 investigations, while it was actively pursuing 36, and that 2 cases were currently before the courts.

“2 cases were closed internally, while 4 others have since been forwarded to the ODPP for review, and 3 were closed following ODPP directives,” IPOA stated.

IPOA further detailed that among the completed investigations, eight are undergoing final internal review, with four in the last stages of report writing.

 “Of the completed investigations, 8 are under final internal review, 4 are in the final stages of report writing before submission to the Office of the Director of Public Prosecution (ODPP) for independent review,” IPOA added.

IPOA has encountered challenges in conducting investigations due to lack of cooperation from both the police and witnesses. The authority has pledged to engage with the police command to ensure justice is achieved. 

 “On a case-by-case basis, if culpability is found, IPOA will make appropriate recommendations to the relevant State agencies and update the public on its findings upon conclusion of its investigations,” IPOA stated.

The BBC investigative piece, which analysed more than 5,000 footage of the demonstrations involving the police officers, including Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) personnel, identified them among the dreaded killers of peaceful protesters.

BBC traced three of the killings on a 3D reconstruction of the country’s Parliament, unveiling the real faces of the killers of the Gen Z protesters who were shot dead outside the Parliament buildings.