Inspector General of Police Japhet Koome Responds to Azimio's ICC Threats

Inspector General of Police Japhet Koome has dismissed calls to have him investigated by the International Criminal Court (ICC).

This comes after the opposition’s Azimio la Umoja One Kenya coalition wrote to The Hague-based court requesting it to probe police brutality during its protests.

In a letter to the Office of the ICC Prosecutor, the Raila Odinga-led coalition asked the international court to particularly investigate Koome, whom they accuse of committing eight serious crimes.

Through lawyer Paul Mwangi, Azimio claimed Koome established a special squad of rogue police officers to unleash terror on its supporters during the demos.

"The squads are reported to be dressed in plain clothes, to operate outside the normal command structure and to take direction directly from select commanders appointed for that purpose by Japheth Koome," reads the letter.

Addressing the media at his home on Sunday, Koome stated that he will not be intimidated by ICC threats, adding that he will continue to administer his duties in line with the law.

"I thank you for the letter. I will not be intimidated by the letter, I want to tell my officers not to be intimidated by the letter. We vowed to serve our country and we don't have another country," he said.

Koome further termed the ICC letter as mere "propaganda" being pushed by a politician who has personal interests.

He added that the letter was tribally motivated, arguing that the same happened to the former head of Public Service Francis Muthaura, who was taken to ICC on accusations of fueling violence after the 2007 general election.

"That letter is being incited by a certain politician. It started with Muthaura, he was taken there and now it is me. Why are they targeting Meru people? Let us stop this tribal matter," said Koome.