Inspector General of Police Japhet Koome has revealed that the officer who was filmed last Thursday firing a teargas canister into a vehicle carrying journalists is being investigated.

The said policeman, whose identity is yet to be revealed by police, was captured in a widely circulated video smashing the windows of the Toyota Prado carrying the media team before brazenly firing a teargas canister inside it.

According to Koome, if the policeman is found culpable of committing a crime, he will face the full wrath of the law, just like any other Kenyan who is found to have engaged in crime.

Similarly, the IG of Police issued an apology to the journalists who were injured by police officers while covering the anti-government demonstrations terming it unintentional, coming days after media stakeholders criticised the police for using force against journalists covering the Azimio demos.

Plain clothed policeman firing a teargas canister into a media vehicle, injured Eric Isinta and Timon Abuna. PHOTOS/SCREENSHOTS

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Speaking during the ongoing interviews for a new Deputy Inspector General of Police at the Kenya School of Government (KSG), He pledged a better relationship between the media and the National Police Service.

During the Thursday demos spearheaded by Azimio la Umoja coalition party leader Raila Odinga, six journalists sustained serious injuries following attacks by the police and protesters. 

Japhet Koome. PHOTO/COURTESY

This also comes two days after President William Ruto assured the media that they were not being intentionally targeted by the police and the State during the anti-government protests by the opposition and guaranteed them of their freedom as enshrined in the constitution.