A total of 21 police officers are set to be charged in court for using excessive force while implementing the Kenya government’s regulations on Covid-19 containment.  

This was announced on Thursday by the Independent Policing Oversight Authority ( IPOA), which said the 15 police officers and 6 Busia County officers were singled out after a probe.

IPOA said police allegedly lobbed teargas into a private home and seriously assaulted the owner, Benard Orenga, his wife, children and neighbours afterwards on March 30, 2020.

The authority said its investigation established that the officers committed the excesses at around 7:15pm while enforcing Covid-19 curfew rules at Nambale town in Busia County.

During the said incident, the 6 Busia County enforcement officers attached to the Nambale subcounty, who are among those to be charged, had been assigned police duties.

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In a statement, IPOA chairperson Anne Makori that the 21 will be arraigned after the Director of Public Prosecutions concurred with the authority’s investigation findings.

Makori said among the charges the police officers face include assault, causing actual bodily harm, malicious damage to property and attempting to injure by an explosive substance.

Additionally, IPOA said, the Ward Commander who led the police operation will also be charged

In court with the additional offence of negligence in the discharge of official duty.

The officers are expected to take plea on February 1 in Bungoma.