Baragoi massacre could have been avoided, says commission

Kenya: Poor planning and lack of coordination among security agencies led to the death of over 30 police officers in the infamous Baragoi massacre, Commission on Administrative Justice (CAJ) said yesterday.

The killings of another eight police reservists could have similarly been avoided if the operations were well-coordinated and adequate resources deployed.

“The deaths were avoidable if operations had been properly planned and if there was sufficient support for officers on the ground. The National Police Headquarters did not respond in time to assist officers on the ground,” CAJ chair Otiende Amollo said yesterday while launching a report on the Baragoi Police operation.

The ombudsman faulted the National Police Commission (NPC) and specifically outgoing Inspector General of Police David Kimaiyo for deploying 11 fresh police graduates in the fateful operation at Suguta Valley in November, last year.

Former Provincial Police Officer John Mbijiwe and former Assistant Commissioner of Police Wilberforce Lugusa have collectively been accused of mismanaging the operation leading to some of the shortcomings.

In damning revelations backed up with firsthand witness statements, the report reveals lack of relevant information from the National intelligence Service (NIS) to salvage the situation.

Self-proclaimed police boss Joshua Waiganjo has also been mentioned in the report as having played a role in compromising the operation.

At the same time, the report reiterates, there was no standby party or an immediate medical evacuation operation to save lives of officers injured in the operation.

Some 30 police officers were killed in the operation and 14 others injured while eight police reservists lost their lives and five others injured. Two officers who took part in the operation, the report reveals, are still missing.

The report read by Commissioner Sadia Mohammed accuses the Government of offering ‘weak assistance’ to families of deceased officers, adding it facilitated burial expenses of only 16 officers.

“The Government facilitated burial expenses of 16 officers at Sh50,000 each leaving out 14 other officers. The processing of pension and death gratuity for deceased officers has been painfully slow,” the report says.

“As at April 11 this year, the Police had submitted only seven claims to the directorate of pensions whereby only six were approved and one was rejected for incorrect information.”

Amollo said that the management of Kenya Police Reservist has been wanting, adding that similar revelations captured in the report have been replayed in recent attacks in Kapedo.