Holders of 3 positions will be interdicted immediately someone dies in police custody, says IG Kanja.
The Inspector General identified three officers to face immediate interdiction if a suspect dies while officially in police hands. These are the officer on duty at the station, the OB recorder, and the officer on sentry duty.
IG Kanja was addressing officers at the National Police Leadership Academy, Ngong on Wednesday this week. He noted that cases of suspects dying in police custody have risen to concerning levels.
The IG said police can only be exonerated if the circumstances surrounding the suspect’s death were beyond anyone’s control.
IG Kanja orders VIP Security to act within the law
Kanja also observed that there have been cases of officers in charge of VIPs acting beyond their mandate. He warned them to always adhere to the law, otherwise they will be held personally liable for any consequences.
The police service has a new set of Standing Orders. Consequently, the IG has been leading the efforts to sensitize the force accordingly.
Moreover, it is barely one year to Kenya’s next general elections, a time when VIPs seek to boost their security. As such, it is imperative that police officers understand which commands supersede others: political or legal/official commands?
Is it Usual to Keep Police Actions in Check?
The observations of IG Kanja this week are not uniquely Kenyan or African. All over the world, individual police officers sometimes act outside the law. As a result, they undermine public trust.
In recent years, for instance, the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers have come under criticism for apparent harassment.
They have been accused of using unwarranted force, hiding their identities, and depriving residents of their rights during arrests. That behavior caused immense public uproar that only seemed to dissipate with the courts’ intervention.
It has also become a political point of bashing for President Trump’s leadership.