LSK demands ban on masked police as NPS probes assault on disabled Nakuru protester
In a letter addressed to Inspector General of Police Douglas Kanja, LSK President Charles Kanjama said reports received from lawyers, legal observers and members of the public pointed to widespread unconstitutional policing during demonstrations held across the country.
The Law Society of Kenya (LSK) has accused the National Police Service (NPS) of violating the constitution during the June 25 Gen Z anniversary demonstrations and called for an immediate ban on the deployment of masked police officers.
In a letter addressed to Inspector General of Police Douglas Kanja, LSK President Charles Kanjama said reports received from lawyers, legal observers and members of the public pointed to widespread unconstitutional policing during demonstrations held across the country.
The lawyers’ body cited roadblocks restricting access to Nairobi, disruption of peaceful assemblies, arbitrary arrests, excessive use of force against demonstrators, attacks on journalists and the deployment of masked officers.
“The society formally protests the conduct of members of the National Police Service during the policing of public assemblies held across the Republic on 25th June, 2026,” Kanjama said.
LSK argued that officers enforcing the law must remain identifiable at all times, warning that the use of masks and balaclavas undermines transparency, accountability and public confidence in the police service.
“Officers entrusted with enforcing the law should not conceal their identities from the public. Such practices undermine transparency and accountability, frustrate investigations into complaints of misconduct and weaken public confidence in the National Police Service,” the letter states.
The society further reminded the police that the High Court has previously ruled against the deployment of masked officers during public order operations and emphasized that force and firearms should only be used as a last resort.
LSK urged the Inspector General to issue fresh operational directives requiring full compliance with the Constitution, immediately stop the deployment of masked officers, investigate allegations of excessive force, unlawful arrests and assaults on journalists, and reaffirm the NPS’s commitment to constitutional policing.
“The constitutional duty of the National Police Service is to facilitate peaceful assemblies while taking lawful and proportionate action only against persons engaged in criminal conduct,” LSK said, adding that adherence to court decisions, accountability and the rule of law are critical to restoring public trust in policing during demonstrations.
The demands came as the police announced an internal investigation into officers captured on video violently arresting a person with a disability during the June 25 Gen Z anniversary protests in Nakuru.
In a statement issued on Friday, NPS spokesperson Muchiri Nyaga condemned what he described as unprofessional conduct by the officers involved, saying their actions appeared to have breached the Service’s Standard Operating Procedures and legal safeguards designed to protect the dignity and rights of suspects.
“The Service strongly condemns all forms of unprofessional conduct, excessive force, or breaches of established procedures. We remain committed to upholding the highest standards of professionalism, respect for human rights, and adherence to the Constitution of Kenya and other relevant laws,” Nyaga said.
According to police, the incident occurred in Nakuru City during demonstrations commemorating the second anniversary of the 2024 Gen Z protests.
Viral footage showed officers snatching the man’s crutches before dragging and restraining him, prompting widespread condemnation from disability rights groups, civil society organizations and members of the public.
Nyaga said Inspector General Kanja had directed the Internal Affairs Unit to conduct a thorough, professional and impartial investigation within seven days, adding that appropriate action would be taken based on the findings.
The police service acknowledged that the officers’ conduct may not have complied with established procedures or safeguards intended to protect suspects’ dignity and rights, describing such behavior as unacceptable and contrary to the core values of the Service.
Earlier today, June 26, 2026, the National Council for Persons with Disabilities (NCPWD) strongly condemned the incident, terming it “a very sad and dehumanizing” act against a person with a physical disability.
The Council said the footage depicted uniformed officers forcibly snatching the man’s crutches and manhandling him with disregard for his physical condition, safety and dignity.
“What is depicted is not a lapse in judgment. It is a serious violation of the law,” the Council said, citing constitutional guarantees on equality, human dignity and protection from cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment.
NCPWD also referenced the Persons with Disabilities Act, 2025, which prohibits abuse, violence and degrading treatment of persons with disabilities, and called on the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) to investigate the officers involved and for disciplinary proceedings to be commenced against them.
“The mobility aid is not a mere object. For a person with a physical disability, it is an extension of their body and their only means of independent movement and dignity. Its forcible removal is an act of deliberate cruelty,” said NCPWD Executive Director and CEO Michael Munene.
