Mandera MP faults ATPU for heavy-handed operations
The unit has increasingly taken over responsibilities assigned to other security agencies
Mandera East MP Hussein Weytan has criticized the Anti-Terrorism Police Unit (ATPU), accusing it of adopting a heavy-handed approach that infringes on the rights of local residents and exceeds its mandate.
The legislator said that the unit has increasingly taken over responsibilities assigned to other security agencies, resulting in violations of constitutional rights.
Speaking on Thursday during the inauguration of Bulla Mpya Assistant Chief Shamsa Abdikar Abdi, Weytan accused the ATPU of venturing into criminal matters that should ordinarily be handled by other agencies, including the National Police Service (NPS) and the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI).
“Mandera residents are peace-loving people and do not support acts of terrorism. If there are criminal elements, the police should be allowed to discharge their duties. We have police cases, there are matters handled by the DCI, and there are also issues that fall under the ATPU. Every department should be allowed to perform its designated role without overriding the mandate of others,” he said.
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The MP further alleged that some ATPU officers were engaging in extortion, claiming that residents were being subjected to arbitrary arrests and forced to pay bribes to secure their release.
“There are allegations that they have turned into an extortion ring, indiscriminately arresting people and demanding bribes of up to Sh200,000 for their release. This is unacceptable,” he said.
Weytan called on the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) to investigate allegations of police harassment, warning that local leaders would escalate the matter to higher authorities if the concerns were not addressed.
During the inauguration, he congratulated Madam Shamsa on her appointment, describing it as a significant responsibility and expressing confidence that her leadership would have a positive impact on the community and contribute to social development.
