IPOA says probe into 22 protest deaths completed as 60 death cases registered

In a statement to newsrooms, IPOA noted that 60 deaths have been registered and have already completed investigations into 22 while actively pursuing 36, with two currently before the courts.

The two include Rex Masai and Evans Kiratu, who were gunned down in Nairobi on the day of the protests, with police officers being the key suspects.

"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, 2 were closed internally, 4 have been forwarded to the ODPP for review, and 3 were closed following ODPP directives," read the statement in part.

Among the 60 death cases, 29 cases , 8 were recorded in Nyeri, 6 in Kakamega, Kisumu (6), Nakuru (4), Eldoret (3), Mombasa (3) and Meru (1).

The Authority also recorded another 233 injury cases from the demonstrations with 191 currently under investigations.

Of the remaining cases, 42 were closed internally, while 2 were forwarded to the ODPP. 

IPOA has however noted that there has been instances of non-cooperation from police officers and witnesses, which has impeded the progress of some investigations.

The statement comes after a BBC documentary exposing police officers who shot dead protestors during the demonstrations at Parliament buildings in Nairobi.

The exposé singles out security officers believed to have instructed officers to kill, as well as those who pulled the trigger and killed three young men.

Investigators said they analysed more than 5,000 images to piece together the sequence of events on June 25 and the placement of both the victims and the shooters.

Meanwhile, BBC has said that Kenyan authorities have blocked the screening of the documentary which was set to screen at the Unseen Nairobi cinema on Monday evening, with a panel discussion.

“We are very disappointed not to have been able to share the documentary and panel discussion as planned. In the meantime, audiences can watch the film on BBC Africa’s YouTube channel," a BBC spokesperson said.