Inspector-General of Police Japhet Koome resigns a day after President William Ruto dismissed almost his entire cabinet.
Kenya’s Inspector General of Police, Japhet Koome, has resigned following criticism of the police force’s handling of recent antigovernment protests where numerous protesters were killed.
President William Ruto accepted Koome’s resignation after facing pressure from demonstrators and announced Deputy Inspector-General Douglas Kanja as the acting police chief.
The move came after Ruto dismissed most of his cabinet in response to protest demands, highlighting the serious crisis during his presidency.
The demonstrations saw allegations of police using excessive force, leading to the deaths of at least 39 people according to the national rights watchdog.
Ruto took steps to address the grievances by abandoning a finance bill with unpopular tax hikes and reshuffling the cabinet, but this did not fully satisfy frustrated citizens demanding more substantial changes.
Despite a decrease in street protests, there remains lingering anger towards the government and the police, with some questioning Ruto’s commitment to fulfilling his election promises.