Inspector General of Police Douglas Kanja has warned police commanders that they will be held responsible for misconduct by officers under their command, including deaths occurring inside police cells.
Kanja directed that three officers on duty whenever a suspect dies in police custody be immediately interdicted as investigations into the circumstances of the death get underway.
The officers targeted by the directive are the Occurrence Book recorder, the cell sentry and the duty officer.
Speaking to regional police commanders, Kanja said the directive was intended to strengthen accountability and ensure that incidents involving deaths in custody are properly investigated.
“Any death occurring in police cells, the O.B. recorder, the cell sentry and the duty officer, those officers must be interdicted immediately pending investigations of what happened. That is something that you, as commanders, must ensure happens,” Kanja said.
The Inspector General’s directive comes amid renewed scrutiny of deaths involving suspects shortly after their arrest.
The latest concerns emerged following the death of Gideon Makau, who died shortly after being arrested and booked at Kilungu Police Station. His death came two days after Eric Otieno died after being booked at Muthaiga Police Station, with allegations that he had been assaulted while in custody.
Kanja also told commanders that responsibility for police officers and government equipment cannot be separated from the command structure, warning senior officers to account for the conduct of personnel under them.
“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 their duties,” he said.
The police chief further addressed concerns over criminal gangs, particularly ahead of the 2027 General Election, directing commanders to provide regular reports on arrests of suspected gang members in their respective jurisdictions.
“I need to be getting returns of all the goons who have been arrested in your respective areas. This is something that we must stop. It is the responsibility of NPS. Don’t allow goonism,” Kanja said.
Deputy Inspector General of Police, Administration Police Service, Gilbert Masengeli, similarly cautioned commanders that they would be the first to face scrutiny where crime increases within their areas of responsibility.
“Crime going up in your areas of responsibility, you, as the commander, will be the first to be questioned. For us, this is a warning against careless command,” Masengeli said.
The two senior officers were addressing regional commanders at the National Police Leadership Academy during a sensitisation meeting on the newly established Nairobi Metropolitan Police Unit.
The unit will bring together more than 2,500 officers drawn from the National Police Service and the Nairobi County Inspectorate, with its operations expected to strengthen security within Nairobi.
