Police officers try to maintain order during a Nasa demo. [Photo/The Star]The United Nations agency on Drugs and Crime has discontinued support to the Kenya Police Service over 'brutality' during the 2017 post election chaos.The decision to withhold Sh800 million toward operations, equipment and modern skills training was communicated to the Kenya Police Service during a retreat in Naivasha last week on Wednesday, according to the Star.
The funds are channeled for police reform through the UN and other aid agencies of the US, UK, Norway, Netherlands, Britain and Germany.
However, Inspector General of Police Joseph Boinnet has denied knowledge of the withdrawal.
"I am not aware of it and I can't comment on something I am not aware of. Find out from those that are doing it," Boinnet told the Star on phone, on Monday.
Details of the meeting attended by the top police officers and development partners remain scanty but Swedish officials, the office of the IG and the reform and internal affairs directorates were well represented, adds the publication.
The donors, Police and civil society were due to meet on Monday and Tuesday (today) to audit the status of reforms.
The development partners have already conducted parallel investigations into the activities that transpired during the elections. They visited morgues and hospitals to establish the cause of death and how the police handled the cases after IG Joseph Boinnet denied allegations that the police killed the deceased."There has been general fatigue towards supporting police reforms because, in the area of knowledge, attitude and practice, that is not evident in the way the police are behaving. We haven't seen a turnaround in the attitudes, behaviour and practice," Independent Medico-Legal Unit (IMLU) executive director Peter Kiama told the Star on Monday.US Embassy spokesperson Fiona Evans said that they have repeatedly and publicly called on security agencies to exercise maximum restraint."We have also demanded the allegations of excessive force be investigated and perpetrators of violence brought to book," Evans told the Star in a phone interview.Police reform was among the major initiatives began after the 2007-08 post election violence but has been criticized as ineffective. Donors supporting the reforms say it lacks political will.