Kenya's Inspector General of Police, Douglas Kanja, has rejected allegations that officers are abducting citizens, stressing that such acts violate the constitution. He also provided updates on the escape of murder suspect Collins Jumaisi from custody. These statements come amid rising reports of disappearances targeting government critics.
In a Friday evening interview on NTV, Douglas Kanja, the Inspector General of the National Police Service, firmly dismissed claims linking police to abductions in Kenya. He emphasized that the service adheres strictly to legal boundaries, with abduction explicitly excluded from officers' constitutional duties. 'We do not have police officers abducting Kenyans. This service and its members understand their duties very clearly, and in our duty, abduction is not part of it,' Kanja stated.
Kanja assured the public of swift disciplinary measures against any officers involved in such misconduct. 'If anyone can go in that direction, then believe you me, then we will carry out appropriate action, as guided by the laws,' he added. His comments respond to a wave of abductions since June 2024, coinciding with anti-government protests. Reports show 82 cases recorded, with 29 individuals still unaccounted for as of mid-2025, many involving vocal critics and human rights activists.
The IG also tackled the ongoing case of Collins Jumaisi, the primary suspect in the grisly murders of 42 women whose mutilated bodies were discovered in a Mukuru kwa Njenga quarry last year. Jumaisi escaped from police custody under suspicious circumstances. Kanja revealed that internal actions have been taken against implicated officers and a renewed search is in progress. 'We know what transpired in our station, and appropriate action was taken against those who were deemed to have allowed Jumaisi to escape our custody. I know we are going to lay our hands on Jumaisi, and he must pay for his crimes,' he affirmed.
These developments highlight ongoing tensions over police accountability and public safety in Kenya, as authorities work to restore trust amid persistent concerns.