Hassan denies IPOA leaked Mukhwana statement on Omondi murder

The Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) chairman Issack Hassan has defended the agency, saying they do not release statements recorded by police officers under investigation to the media or the public.

Speaking at a press briefing, refuted media reports that IPOA released the statement recorded by Police Constable James Mukhwana when he appeared before them over the death of teacher-turned blogger Albert Omondi Ojwang at Central Police Station on the night of June 7-8.

He, however, said it is probable that the officer himself who shared his statement.

“As IPOA, we do not release statements to the media or the public; it is not IPOA that published Mukhwana’s statement. It is probably himself,” the chairman stated.

This is even as Hassan apologised for appearing in the press conference held on the first day of the investigations at the Central Police Station in the company of Inspector General of Police Douglas Kanja and his deputies Eliud Lagat (KPS) and Gilbert Masengeli (APS).

He argued that he appeared at the briefing following an invitation by Kanja.

Hassan apologised, saying that the optics indicated he was siding with the National Police Service, yet they had launched investigations against them.

“I did not plan to be at the press conference. The IG invited me to be at that press conference, and I think it was a big mistake. The optics were that I was standing there with the killer. I think we owe the country an apology,” he said.

IPOA was criticised by Kenyans online after the press conference even as released a statement indicating IPOA had commenced investigations.

According to Kenyans, it was ironic that IPOA was in the same place as the people who were accused of having committed the crime.

Currently, three out of the 20officers who were interrogated by IPOA are facing murder charges .

The three together with three civilians will take their plea tomorrow at the Kibera High Court.