Ipoa Writes to MPs in Azimio Over the Use of Tear Gas

In a letter to lawmakers who were teargassed by police on Tuesday at the Office of the President in Nairobi, the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (Ipoa) expressed its concerns.

Ipoa asked the legislators for any pertinent information about the occurrence and stated in the letter that it has started an inquiry into the issue.

“Confirm to our investigators your availability for statement recording regarding the incident,” the letter, seen by the Star, said.

The MPs have also been tasked by Ipoa with assisting its investigators in finding other victims or witnesses. Ipoa said that under Section 7(1)(a)(i) of the Independent Policing Authority Act, the authority has the authority to request reports, records, and documents from any source in order to gather the information it deems necessary.

While seeking a meeting with the President, some Azimio lawmakers were teargassed outside the White House.

The legislators were caught up in the altercation when they arrived at the location to deliver a petition outlining the concerns they wanted the administration to solve. The group of over 50 parliamentarians affiliated with Azimio marched peacefully to vent their complaints until the police intervened, according to a tweet from Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna.

“As my colleagues and I quietly marched to present the people’s petition, we were teargassed outside the president’s office. Gachagua said that we were aware of their whereabouts. We do. When we arrived, the police were there. Cowards!” Soon after the event, Sifuna tweeted.

The Azimio crew had intended to appear at the President’s Office and deliver a petition regarding the high expense of living.