Interior Cabinet Secretary Kithure Kindiki has said the government has not issued a shoot-to-kill order in controlling crowds in the country and has got a zero-tolerance policy towards extrajudicial killings.
Prof Kindiki, who made his maiden appearance before the National Assembly to answer questions raised by members said the National Police Service Internal Affairs Unit and Independent Police Oversight Authority (Ipoa) were investigating the killing of a bodaboda operator in Chuka, Tharaka Nithi County.
The CS was answering a question raised by Chuka Igambang'ombe MP Patrick Munene who wanted to know the circumstances that led to the killing of Daniel Mutembei on March 18, 2023, sparking demonstrations by locals over what they termed as inaction by police to arrest the suspects.
"I would like to inform Members of Parliament and the country at large that the police do not have a shoot-to-kill order when handling crowds. We are investigating all incidents where it is alleged that police used excessive force to find out if it is the police or civilian guns used and action taken," he said.
Kindiki informed the House that the police did not use force in stopping the rescue of a suspected bandit who was being treated for injuries at Iten County Hospital in Elgeyo Marakwet, to avoid civilian casualties. Responding to Baringo North MP Joseph Makilap's question on when the rescued bandit will be brought to book, the CS assured that the suspect will be arrested.
Kindiki who was also responding to a question by Gilgil MP Martha Wangari on the shortage of birth registration forms across the country explained that this was occasioned by the slow process at the government printer which he has directed to speed up.
He said that the government has changed the management at the government printer and his office has written three letters asking that it expedites the services it offers.
"I would also like to inform this House that it is no longer a requirement for children to have two parents registered at the point of birth in order to save single mothers the headache they face where in some circumstances, the biological fathers are not willing to provide necessary documents," said Kindiki.
The CS told the House that the government was working towards establishing civil registries in all sub-counties in the country so as to ease civil registration services in response to a question asked by Mandera South MP Abdul Haro.
National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetang'ula welcomed Kindiki to the House saying that he was the first CS to answer members' questions, noting that they will be hosting CSs every Wednesday.
