Embakasi East MP Babu Owino has expressed concern over the continued use of face masks by police officers during public demonstrations.
In a statement on Saturday, June 14, Owino said the practice goes against a court ruling and called for accountability and transparency in law enforcement.
“As a legislator deeply committed to constitutionalism and the rule of law, I am gravely concerned by the continued practice of police officers wearing face masks while on official duty during public demonstrations,” he said in a post on his Facebook account.
He referred to a court ruling delivered by Justice Bahati Mwamuye, which found that the use of face coverings by police officers during protests is unconstitutional.
The ruling noted that the practice affects the public’s right to identify state agents and hold them accountable.
On April 30, 2025, the High Court barred the Inspector General of Police from deploying officers in civilian clothes or with concealed identities to manage public protests in the country.
In a landmark judgment, Justice Bahati Mwamuye ruled that all police officers assigned to handle public assemblies, demonstrations, or picketing must be in official uniform and remain identifiable at all times.
“A declaration is hereby issued that any law enforcement officer deployed to maintain law and order during an assembly, demonstration, or picketing must be in uniform and shall not, in any way, conceal their identity, including by obscuring their face, to remain unidentifiable,” he ordered.
The court emphasised that visible identification is essential to uphold accountability and public trust in law enforcement.
In his statement, Owino urged the Inspector General of Police to issue a directive to ensure compliance with the judgment.
“I call upon the Inspector General of Police to issue an immediate directive enforcing full compliance with the court ruling,” he said.
“No officer should engage the public in anonymity, especially while exercising lawful authority.”
He called for adherence to the law by all, including officers tasked with its enforcement.
