Inspector General of Police Douglas Kanja has ordered the immediate interdiction of all officers on duty whenever a suspect dies in police custody, a directive aimed at tightening accountability within the National Police Service.
The order applies specifically to the Occurrence Book recorder, the cell sentry, and the duty officer in any station where a detainee dies. Those officers must be interdicted immediately pending investigation into the circumstances of the death.
Kanja issued the directive on August 13, a day after the family of Gideon Makau raised concerns over his death at Kilungu Police Station in Makueni County. Makau had been arrested and booked before dying in custody. His family is seeking answers about what transpired between his arrest and his death.
“The OB recorder, the cell sentry, and the duty officer. Those officers must be interdicted immediately pending investigation of whatever happened,” Kanja said. He emphasized that the directive applies to all similar cases and placed responsibility on police commanders to account for officers serving under their command.
Kanja warned commanders and line managers that they would be held accountable for the conduct of officers under their supervision. “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.
Makau’s death comes amid renewed scrutiny over custodial deaths and allegations of police misconduct. Two days after Makau died, another suspect, Eric Otieno, died at Muthaiga Police Station on August 1, about 24 hours after being booked. Police leadership said Otieno was allegedly assaulted while in custody.
The incidents have intensified questions over the responsibility of officers supervising suspects in cells and the mechanisms for ensuring accountability when detainees die under police supervision. Public attention on custodial deaths heightened following the death of blogger Albert Ojwang at Nairobi Central Police Station in June 2025, which triggered widespread concern and investigations.
Kanja further warned commanders against failing to take action against officers accused of criminal conduct. He said commanders must know the officers under their supervision and take responsibility for their conduct. The warning follows the implication of three police officers in the murder of Dr Victoria Mutisya, who was shot dead on July 29.
Deputy Inspector General of Police in charge of the Administration Police Service, Gilbert Masengeli, similarly warned commanders that they would be the first to be questioned if crime levels rise in their areas. “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,” Masengeli said.
Kanja also directed police commanders to intensify efforts to dismantle criminal gangs operating within their jurisdictions. He warned that commanders who fail to contain such gangs could face disciplinary action, including demotion, and ordered them to provide regular returns on suspected gang members arrested in their respective areas.
“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 directives were delivered during a meeting with regional police commanders at the National Police Leadership Academy, where they were also briefed on the newly formed Nairobi Metropolitan Police Unit. The unit, to be headed by a commandant, will comprise more than 2,500 officers drawn from the National Police Service and the Nairobi County Inspectorate to strengthen security and improve coordination across the capital.
The measures come ahead of the 2027 General Election, amid concerns over criminal gang activity and its potential impact on security. Investigations into Makau’s death are expected to establish the circumstances surrounding his death and determine whether any officers will face criminal or administrative action.
