Kanja oders interdiction of police officers on duty when suspects die in police custody

Inspector General of Police Douglas Kanja has ordered the immediate interdiction of police officers on duty when a suspect dies in custody.

This directive, he says will apply specifically to the officer recording the Occurrence Book, the cell sentry and the duty officer at the station in question.

"The OB recorder, the sentry, and the duty officer those officers must be interdicted immediately pending investigation of whatever happened. That is something that you are the commanders on the ground, and you must ensure that happens," Kanja said.

Speaking during a meeting with regional police commanders at the National Police Leadership Academy in Ngong, Kanja said the measure was intended to strengthen accountability within the service and ensure officers responsible for detainees answer directly for what happens under their watch.

The order came a day after the family of Gideon Makau raised concerns over his death hours after his arrest and booking at Kilungu Police Station in Makueni County, and follows a run of custodial deaths that have placed the National Police Service under sustained public scrutiny.

Makau's death is the latest in a string of recent cases that have intensified pressure on police leadership. Just days before his death, another suspect, 19 year old Eric Otieno, died roughly 24 hours after being released from Muthaiga Police Station on August 1 a death his family said was as a result of alleged assault while Otieno was in custody.

The scrutiny, however, has not been limited to deaths in police custody. Separately, three police officers have also been implicated in the July 29 murder of Dr. Victoria Mutiso, who was shot dead in Nairobi’s Upper Hill area. With one officer already arrested and others still at large, the case has further fueled public concern over police accountability.

These series of cases point to a broader pattern of police misconduct. The same case that led to public outrage following the death of blogger Albert Ojwang at Nairobi Central Police Station in June 2025.

A case that triggered nationwide public outrage and protests which forced the National Police Service to confront long standing questions on how detainees are treated and how police officers are held accountable.

Kanja placed direct responsibility on commanders themselves, warning them against failing to act when officers under their supervision are implicated in misconduct.

"Let every commander, every line manager, get to account for the officers at all times. You must account for the equipment that is held by your officers for the discharge of the duty," he said.

Deputy Inspector General of the Administration Police Service Gilbert Masengeli echoed the warning, telling commanders they would personally bear the consequences of rising crime in their areas of jurisdiction.

"Crime going up in your areas of responsibility  you as a commander, you'll be the first one to be questioned. For us, this is a warning against careless command," he said.

Kanja further warned against commanders who fail to contain goon activity in their areas, saying that they risk demotion and directed them to submit regular returns detailing suspected gang members arrested within their jurisdictions.

"I need to be getting returns of all the goons who have been actually arrested in your respective areas. This is something that we must stop. It is the responsibility of the National Police Service," Kanja said 

The meeting also served to brief regional commanders on the newly formed Nairobi Metropolitan Police Unit, which will draw more than 2,500 officers from both the National Police Service and the Nairobi County Inspectorate.

The unit is intended to strengthen security coordination across the capital.