DPP Drops Charges Against 15 Cops Who Broke People’s Legs In Busia

The office of the Director of Public Prosecution has come under criticism after dropping charges against 15 police officers accused of human rights violations in Busia County including breaking legs of two school-going children.

The 15 officers were to take a plea on Tuesday after Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) recommended their prosecution. Ironically, the office of the DPP had approved the charges only for the same office to withdraw the same charges.

The 15 police officers are accused of raiding a home in Busia, discharged teargas in a house that had children in it, assaulted a man and his wife, broke the leg of their young son, assaulted neighbors, broke computers, and destroyed crops as they cheered.

The Police Reforms Working Group (PRWG-K) has condemned the move by the office of the DPP saying that “Kenya will never progress on the rule of law with such actions.” The Group says police should be held accountable for excessive use of force.

“We are deeply disappointed by the manner in which ODPP has treated this case. IPOA concluded investigations and recommended various charges against the officers and they were to take plea on Tuesday… but the ODPP made an application to withdraw the case,” they said.

15 polices officers in Busia raided a home, hammered men, broke legs of two boys and sexually assaulted two girls and a mother. @IPOA_KE recommended prosecution. Shockingly, @ODPP_KE has dropped the charges. Huu ni ungwana kweli? Hii ni haki kweli? 😭

— Juma G 🇰🇪 (@jumaf3_) February 3, 2021

The Group has called on the ODPP to reconsider the decision of indeed the government is serious about fighting and reforming the police force. They say the office of the DPP did not give reasons as to why it was withdrawing the charges which is unfair to the victims.

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