NAIROBI, Kenya, Aug 13 — Inspector General of Police Douglas Kanja has ordered the immediate interdiction of police officers who are on duty whenever a suspect dies in police custody, pending investigations into the circumstances surrounding the death.

📻 Breaking It Down

Kanja said the directive will apply to officers responsible for recording the Occurrence Book (OB), the cell sentry and the duty officer in cases where a suspect dies while in police custody.

He said the measure is aimed at strengthening accountability within the National Police Service and ensuring that officers responsible for detainees are held accountable.

The directive follows the death of Gideon Makau at Kilungu Police Station in Makueni County, where he had been arrested and booked before dying in custody.

📌 What You Need to Know

Makau’s family has raised concerns over the circumstances surrounding his death and is seeking answers on what happened between his arrest and death.

Kanja issued the directive a day after the family raised concerns over Makau’s death, instructing regional police commanders to ensure officers who were on duty during a custodial death are immediately interdicted as investigations begin.

“The OB recorder, the cell sentry, and the duty officer. Those officers must be interdicted immediately pending investigation of whatever happened,” Kanja said.

The Inspector General said the directive should apply to all similar cases, placing responsibility on police commanders to account for officers serving under their command.

Kanja also 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.

📰 Source: Capital FM Kenya