Why Ipoa wants police to man medical facilities during protests

Next time you attend a protest, it could be a police officer ushering you to an ambulance or medical tent for first aid intervention if you're injured.

This is should Police Inspector General Douglas Kanja adopt reform recommendations proposed by the Independent Policing Oversight Authority.

Ipoa now wants a new police unit created to exclusively guard public health facilities during demonstrations. The aim is twofold: to help injured protesters access first aid and to protect medical first responders from harm during riots and protests.

In its latest protest monitoring report, the police watchdog recommends the establishment of the unit to prevent a repeat of previous incidents, where ambulances and makeshift medical tents set up by doctors were attacked during protests.

“The Inspector General of Police should ensure that medical personnel are facilitated during protests and that prompt medical aid is provided to the injured. In line with Section 10(1)(h) of the National Police Service Act, the IGP should also establish a dedicated Public Hospital Security Unit to safeguard public medical facilities and support medical responders, especially in high-risk protest areas,” the report recommends.

The Issack Hassan-led body highlights instances in which police officers allegedly fired live rounds and teargas canisters at medical tents set up at Jamia Mosque and Holy Family Basilica—actions it says were illegal. 

Ipoa argues that a dedicated police medical protection unit would enhance accountability for such violations.

The proposed unit would also ensure the presence of police ambulances during demonstrations and allow trained officers to administer first aid to injured individuals.

These recommendations are contained in a report titled ‘Monitoring report on police response to public protests – June and July 2025’. 

It covers several recent demonstrations, including the July 7 (Saba Saba) protests and the June 25 commemorative protests.

The report also calls on the IG to break the pattern of police refusing to acknowledge or cooperate with protest notifications. 

Instead, a collaborative framework between police and protest organizers should be employed to improve public safety and uphold citizens' rights to lawful assembly.

“The Inspector General of Police should establish mechanisms for proactive engagement with protest organizers to reduce tensions and foster mutual agreements on the security and management of assemblies. This collaborative approach will support humane, citizen-centred policing.

“Additionally, the IGP should initiate a national civic sensitisation programme targeting civil society organisations working on police reforms, human rights, national security, public order and lawful assembly,” the report states.

In the four protests analysed in the report, Ipoa documented a total of 65 fatalities as of 23 July 2025. The authority also recorded 342 civilian injuries and 171 police officer injuries during the same period.

Separately, Kitengela Subcounty Hospital was invaded by unknown individuals, its operations disrupted and property of unknown value vandalised during recent unrest.

The attackers were suspected to be hired goons.

The report criticises the National Police Service for failing to report the majority of protest-related deaths, as required by law.

“In line with the provisions of the Sixth Schedule of CAP 84 of the Laws of Kenya, the NPS notified Ipoa of only five deaths out of the 65 fatalities documented. The failure to notify Ipoa of these deaths undermines independent oversight, violates legal reporting obligations and signals a worrying culture of non-compliance,” it says.

Of the documented fatalities, Ipoa has already attended 61 postmortem examinations as part of its investigations and has pledged to attend the remaining ones once scheduled.

Instant Analysis