By MN Reporter
Police officers have been faulted over Thursday attack at a peaceful demonstrations by medic’s union.
Nyatike MP Tom Odege, who is also the national secretary general of Kenya Government Workers’ Union and his Suna West counterpart Peter Masara said the incident was unfortunate.
In a press conference in Migori town on Saturday, the two called in Inspector General of Police Japheth Koome to take action over officers who used excessive force.
“I have been a trade unionist for over a decade and what we saw last week was a scary act we should not be witnessing in a new world,” Odege said.
On Thursday, Kenya Medical Practitioners, Pharmacists, and Dentists Union (KMPDU) had organised a peaceful demonstration in Nairobi to push for employment of intern doctors among other issues.
The incident turned chaotic when police attacked union leaders and Secretary General Davji Bhimji Atellah was hit by a teargas canister on the head.
He sustainined deep cuts on forehead.
Odege said what happened was an assassination attempt.
Masara challenged Koome to take action or he “should resign for failing to instill discipline and responsibility among the police force, this is not a first incident under him.”
Masara said police officers in the call for reforms called for a formation of a union for their force, a move which stands watered down by attack on Atellah.
Masara said Independent Police Oversight Authority (IPOA) and other agencies should investigate the Thursday incident and ensure officers who used excessive force are apprehended.
