Kenya Police Chief Resigns After Criticism

COLOMBO (News 1st) - Kenya's police chief has resigned after criticism of officers' conduct during recent antigovernment demonstrations in which dozens of protesters were killed.

Kenya's presidency said in a statement that President William Ruto has accepted the resignation of Inspector General of Police Japhet Koome, who has served in the role since November 2022.

Deputy Inspector-General Douglas Kanja has been appointed acting police chief with immediate effect.

The announcement came a day after Ruto sacked nearly his entire cabinet, bowing to the demands of protesters.

Some of the young people behind the demonstrations had called for Koome to go, with police accused of using excessive force during the protests, the most serious crisis of Ruto’'s near two-year presidency.

Kenya's national rights watchdog said at least 39 people were killed in the anti-government protests.

Reports suggest Ruto has taken a series of measures to placate the demonstrators, including abandoning the finance bill containing deeply unpopular tax increases that triggered the protests.

On Thursday, he dismissed the attorney general and all cabinet ministers, with the exception of Foreign Minister Musalia Mudavadi and Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua.