The National Police Service of Kenya has arrested two police officers and opened an investigation after “a shooting incident” in the eastern county of Garissa, the police service said.
The Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA), a body set up to investigate cases of police brutality, has also sent its investigators to Garissa, it said.
The National Police Service said two officers had been arrested “over a shooting incident at Soko Ng’ombe market within Garissa Township” and that the Inspector General had ordered an investigation.
“The Inspector General has equally directed the Directorate of Criminal Investigations to carry out forensic analysis on the firearms used by the officers,” it said.
Culling in the curfew
Aden Duale, Member of Parliament for Garissa, said in a Twitter post that police had shot dead Aden Abdi Madobe and Muhiyadin Adow Shibin on Saturday during an “arrest mission”. He did not give further details.
International campaigners have raised concerns about police behaviour in the East African nation, including during lockdown restrictions.
Amnesty International, the rights group, said Kenyan police had killed at least 100 people in 2020, with 21 related to COVID-19 lockdown infractions, such as curfew or mask violations.
Earlier this month police in the capital, Nairobi, fired tear gas and arrested several protesters taking part in the annual Saba Saba march – a protest event that started 30 years ago against the autocratic regime of the then president of Kenya, Daniel arap Moi.
BBC correspondents say this year’s event was given extra impetus by anger over police crackdowns during the COVID-19 lockdown.
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