Azimio Using Hired Dead Bodies To Frame Cops For Brutality- IG Koome
He was speaking at the Kenya Police College in Kiganjo, Nyeri County where he claimed that the Raila Odinga-led coalition was trying to divide police officers and members of the public by fuelling propaganda.
Marvin Chege 
Inspector General of Police Japhet Koome on Tuesday, August 8 claimed that politicians allied to the Azimio la Umoja coalition hired dead bodies from mortuaries to ruin the reputation of the National Police Service (NPS) by claiming that they were victims of police brutality during the anti-government demonstrations.
He was speaking at the Kenya Police College in Kiganjo, Nyeri County where he claimed that the Raila Odinga-led coalition was trying to divide police officers and members of the public by fuelling propaganda.
IG Koome went on to claim that "senior citizens" colluded with some mortuary attendants to "buy" bodies before inviting the media to "paint a picture of excessive use of force by the police during the demonstrations".
“In the recent past, we have seen senior members of our society going to mortuaries, hiring dead bodies and inviting the media to claim that the persons were killed by police officers.
A police officer firing teargas to disperse protestors on July 12, 2023. /FACEBOOK
"How low can some of our leaders sink? They take pictures of the bodies and dispatch them all over social media,” Koome claimed.
He added that he received information of the politicians visiting some of the mortuaries and corrupting the workers before picking the bodies of people who died of natural causes, taking photographs and spreading them all over the internet to pin blame on law enforcement officers.
“The information I have is that they go to some of the mortuaries, compromise the workers and pick bodies of people who died due to some illness, accidents and other courses. They take photographs of those bodies and blame the police.
"We are not in the business of being on the defensive side. We cannot respond to busybodies because our mandate is to protect our country,” he added.
The police boss defended by stating that the police will protect the lives and property of Kenyans and make sure the country is safe, adding that the police were well guided on the right to use force during the anti-government protests.
“We are well guided on the right of force to use during such protests and that is why we regularly come to this college for training. The force we use is governed by the law and the service standing orders.
"There is nothing that we have done out of the ordinary. Let them know that chaos will not happen again in this country. This tendency of issuing threats must stop,” Koome said.
Regarding Azimio's threats of dragging them to the International Criminal Court (ICC), the IG stated that neither he nor the NPS would be intimidated.
“Let them continue threatening us that they will head to the ICC. We have a duty to serve our country and we will protect it jealously.
"There are those who are saying that they will go back to the streets and disrupt peace. We are going to deal with you firmly and decisively. We will use all our equipment to instil peace. The guns that we have are properties of Kenyans,” Koome stood firm.
The IG further lamented that many of his officers suffered injuries at the hands of protesters in violent confrontations during the protests.
“How can you expect me to spare you when you hurl stones at me yet I have a gun?
"I will definitely deal with you because the gun that I have is not a walking stick. When you attack a police officer, you will be dealt with equal force,” he added.
On Sunday, April 16, IG Koome dismissed Azimio's letter to the ICC assuring that neither he nor the officers will be intimidated to not do their duty to Kenyans and will not be cowed by the letter.
The opposition had urged the ICC to pursue investigations into alleged crimes against humanity by police officers.
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