JKIA Police Boss Replaced for Mishandling Miguna Miguna Case

Kenya Airport Police Unit (KAPU) commandant Philip Ndolo, the officer in charge at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) has  been replaced for reportedly mishandling things at the facility during Miguna Miguna deportation saga.

Ndolo was allegedly summoned to police headquarters in Nairobi and directed to hand over the command to Nyamira County police commander Titus Karuri Ndungu. Sources said that Ndungu took over his new duty at the Nairobi airport immediately.

The Standard reports that Ndolo's decision to deploy General Service Unit (GSU) personnel to evict Miguna’s lawyers and journalists from the facility was the reason for his sudden replacement.

He is also accused of mishandling the operation after allegedly allowing the lawyers and journalists to the baggage hall, where Miguna was being held.

“He is being accused of many issues including calling GSU to take over such an operation, harassing of journalists and allowing of unauthorized people to the baggage hall,” said an official aware of the operation.

Another officer who spoke to the Standard said the deployment of GSU personnel to the airport was inappropriate.

“That is an international airport. Journalists were doing their job. There was need for proper organization to ensure limited people were allowed into where Miguna was held,” added another official.

He also found himself in trouble for wrongly detaining Miguna in a toilet even when there's a legal holding cell at the JKIA.

“We also don’t know who made the decision to hold Miguna in a toilet when we have a holding cell. Police have been accused of many violations that were unnecessary,” added another source.

Another source told the Nation that an unidentified police officer acted against instructions by cooperating with Miguna's lawyers during his detention. In an interview with BBC, one of lawyers representing Miguna, Cliff Ombeta confirmed that an officer was secretly helping them communicate with their client.

  “We got somebody to sneak a phone to him, one of the police officer, in fact we were watching him. He is a symphathiser and he gave him a phone and we spoke to him.”

During the operation on Tuesday, the GSU officers, don in full combat gear, attacked and injured several journalists covering Miguna's altercation with airport officials.

Those hurt included, Nation TV photojournalist Robert Gichira, Citizen TV report Stephen Letoo and KTN News Reporter Sophia Wanuna.