Police boss Kanja Kanja order interdiction of officers when suspects die in custody

Inspector General of Police Douglas Kanja has ordered the immediate interdiction of three officers whenever a suspect dies in police custody, amid growing concern over deaths in police cells and allegations of misconduct within the National Police Service.

Kanja directed that the Occurrence Book (OB) recorder, cell sentry and duty officer at the station where a death occurs be interdicted pending investigations into the circumstances surrounding the death.

“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.

He said the officers responsible for managing police cells and detainees must be held accountable unless circumstances surrounding a death are beyond their control.

“Unless circumstances are beyond one’s control, those responsible should face the law. They know what to do to safeguard the welfare of those in custody,” he said.

Kanja issued the directive today, Wednesday, August 12, 2026 when he met regional police commanders at the National Police Leadership Academy (NPLA) in Ngong during a sensitisation forum on the new Service Standing Orders, police reforms and the newly established Nairobi Metropolitan Police Unit.

His directive 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.

The circumstances surrounding Makau’s death remain under investigation, while his relatives have disputed claims that he committed suicide and called for an independent investigation.

Makau died two days after another suspect, Eric Otieno, who had been booked at Muthaiga Police Station on August 1, 2026 reportedly died 24 hours after allegedly being assaulted while in police custody.

Kanja warned commanders that they would face disciplinary action if they fail to act against officers under their command who engage in misconduct or criminal activities.

“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.

Deputy Inspector General of Police in charge of the Administration Police Service Gilbert Masengeli similarly warned commanders that they would be held accountable for rising crime in their areas.

“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.

With concerns over criminal gangs and “goonism” ahead of the 2027 General Election, Kanja ordered commanders to provide returns of arrested gang members and intensify efforts to dismantle criminal networks.

“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,” he said.

Kanja also singled out VIP protection as an area requiring greater adherence to the law, warning officers assigned to protect prominent individuals that they would personally bear responsibility for unlawful conduct.

“I’ve mentioned the VIP protection because that is an area that we have not been doing very well. The officers must be reminded that they must, at all times, operate within the framework of the law,” he said.

The warning comes amid scrutiny of VIP security details following the fatal shooting of youth mobiliser Cecil Ouma in Nairobi by a police bodyguard and concerns over alleged political interference in VIP protection operations.

Kanja said officers who violate the law would not be shielded by the service.

“Any officer who deviates out of that, then we’ve got nobody to blame because we will not take excessive,” he said.

The new Nairobi Metropolitan Police Unit, which will be headed by a commandant, will comprise more than 2,500 officers drawn from the National Police Service and Nairobi County Inspectorate and is expected to strengthen security operations in the capital.