Babu Owino Calls Out Masked Police At Protests: It Is Against Court Order

Embakasi East Member of Parliament (MP) Paul Ongili, commonly known as Babu Owino, has urged Inspector General of Police Douglas Kanja to uphold a court order which barred police officers from wearing facial coverings during protests.

In a formal statement, Babu on Saturday, June 14, criticised the ongoing disregard for the judgment issued by Justice Bahati Mwamuye, which deemed the use of masks by police during demonstrations unconstitutional.

Justice Mwamuye had ruled that face coverings worn by officers during protests undermine transparency and accountability, making it difficult to identify state agents when they exercise force.

Babu Owino voiced his frustration over the continued use of face masks by police, despite the court’s clear directive.

Masked anti-riot police officers during protests on July 6, 2024. /NEW YORK TIMES

"As a legislator deeply committed to constitutionalism and the rule of law, I am gravely concerned by the continued practice of police officers wearing face masks while on official duty during public demonstrations. This practice not only undermines public trust but directly contravenes the clear ruling of the Constitutional Court delivered by Justice Bahati Mwamuye," he stated in part.

"In that judgment, the court found that the wearing of face coverings by law enforcement officers while engaging citizens, particularly during protests, is unconstitutional as it violates the rights to accountability, transparency, and the identification of state agents during the exercise of coercive power."

To enforce compliance with the court ruling, Babu Owino has urged Inspector General (IG) Douglas Kanja to issue a clear and immediate directive compelling police officers to follow the law.

The MP warned against allowing the country to drift back into an era of anonymous repression, stressing that adherence to the law is essential for everyone, including law enforcement officers.

"It is unacceptable that, despite this judicial pronouncement, certain elements within the police service continue to disregard the law with impunity. I call upon the Inspector General of Police to issue an immediate directive enforcing full compliance with the court ruling.

"No officer should engage the public in anonymity, especially while wielding force in the name of the state. As a nation, we must not slide back into a culture of faceless repression. The law is clear, and it must be obeyed by all — especially by those entrusted to enforce it," he concluded.

Police officers have continued to appear masked during public demonstrations, even while using force to break up crowds. The most recent incident occurred on Thursday, June 12.

That day, Kenyans were protesting the death of Albert Ojwang, who died while in police custody. During the demonstration, activist Shakira Wafula confronted one of the officers, who was part of the unit sent to disperse the protesters, and forcefully pulled off his face covering.

Viral videos from the scene showed Wafula reaching for the mask, struggling with the officer as he tried to shield himself, before she successfully yanked it off and fled the scene.

The debate over masked officers resurfaced during the 2024 Gen Z protests, when some demonstrators were fatally shot by police. The use of masks made it nearly impossible to identify the officers responsible, sparking nationwide outrage.

Activist Shakira Wafula pulling off a mask from a police officer in Nairobi on June 12, 2025. /LEVI MUNYERI