NAIROBI, Kenya — Kimilili Member of Parliament (MP) Didmus Barasa has announced his intention to sponsor an amendment to legislation aimed at disbanding the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA), accusing the body of intimidating police officers in the line of duty.
The lawmaker asserts that IPOA has failed in its mandate, instead making the work of the police more challenging.
Addressing a press conference at Parliament on Wednesday, Barasa also revealed that his proposed legislation would grant security officers expanded powers to use reasonable force in the execution of their duties.
According to the UDA MP, IPOA, in its current format, serves only to instill fear within the National Police Service (NPS).
“I have set up a team in my office looking at all this proposal. The amendments will be out soon,” Barasa stated. He further emphasized his drastic intentions, adding: “I will propose to disband Ipoa or reduce them to how parliamentary committees handle petitions.”
Barasa specifically accused the Authority of demonizing police and frustrating their work, particularly in managing chaotic public situations.
Faulting the recent arrest of police officers in connection with the murder of X influencer Albert Ojwang’, Barasa drew a comparison to other professions. He argued that while professionals like doctors, judges, and journalists also make errors in their line of duty, only police officers face public condemnation and prosecution.
“When judges and magistrates make mistakes, they say the learned bench has erred. When a police officer makes mistakes, the same officer is arrested and prosecuted,” Barasa noted.
He declared his stance as a defender of law enforcement: “I have decided to come and defend our uniformed officers who are doing a bigger role. Ipoa is overstepping its mandate.”
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Barasa also insisted that public calls for the resignation of Deputy Inspector General Eliud Lagat are misguided, asserting that Lagat made a complaint procedurally.
“There is no relationship between the DIG and Police stations; he followed the rule of law,” the lawmaker stated.
He concluded by warning demonstrators against provoking police officers during protests, citing a recent instance where a female activist was filmed attempting to unmask an officer deployed during last week’s picketing.
“There is a reason why police officers deployed to protect the lives and properties are given guns and not buttons,” Barasa argued.
