Police excesses will not find comfort within the justice system: Haji

The Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) Noordin Haji has said his office will not relent on ensuring accountability among police officers.

The DPP who spoke at the First International Conference on Police Accountability in Africa on Wednesday said responsibility within the police service was paramount.

Haji promised to ensure that officers, irrespective of their position worked within the laid down procedures.

The DPP said his office was keen on enhancing democratic and functional policing to entrench the rule of law, boost public confidence and enhance police legitimacy. As a strong proponent of police accountability, Haji said police excesses would not find comfort within the justice system.

He said his office is in the process of developing guidelines to guide conduct of the National Police service when enforcing the right of citizens to assemble, demonstrate, picket and petition in line with Article 37 of the Constitution.

The two day conference organized by ICJ Kenya draws participation from Civil Society, academia and Government Agencies from across Africa to discuss best practices and challenges of police accountability.

The conference aims to evaluate the effectiveness of various policing authority with respect to the complaints against police officers.

It also seeks to come up with a shared vision and understanding of issues that govern the relationships between communities, security agencies and the criminal justice sector.

At the same time, the said he is in the process of reviewing file on #BabyPendo in order to initiate prosecution of suspects found culpable as per the finding of the inquest for the death of Baby Samantha Pendo in 2017.

Baby Pendo died after she was reportedly clobbered on the head by police in her parents’ house.