Inspector General of Police Douglas Kanja has ordered the recall of the Ishiara Officer Commanding Station (OCS) after deadly clashes at Ishiara Level 4 Hospital in Embu County. Protests over poor hospital services on April 14 left two people dead and several injured when police fired live rounds. Multiple agencies have launched investigations into the incident.
Protests began peacefully in Ishiara, Mbeere North, Embu County, on Tuesday, April 14, 2026, as residents demonstrated against poor services at Ishiara Level 4 Hospital. They cited drug shortages, inadequate staffing, and substandard infrastructure. The situation escalated when police attempted to disperse the crowd, leading to the use of live bullets that killed two people and injured several others.
Angry residents transported the victims' bodies and dumped them outside Ishiara Police Station. The National Police Service (NPS) announced that Inspector General (IG) Kanja directed the immediate recall of the Ishiara OCS and redeployment of officers who had overstayed to allow fair investigations. NPS stated that protesters had attacked officers with crude weapons.
"Further, and to allow for fair, transparent and impartial investigations, the Inspector General National Police Service (IG-NPS) has directed for the immediate recall of the Officer Commanding Station for the affected area," NPS said in a statement. Detectives from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) and the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) have launched probes. Embu County Commissioner Nalyanya Wanyonyi confirmed that officers who fired live bullets will face IPOA scrutiny.
Governor Cecily Mbarire condemned the excessive force. "I strongly condemn the use of excessive force, including live ammunition against unarmed demonstrators. Such actions are disproportionate and unacceptable," she stated. The county held consultative meetings on April 7 and 8, implementing cleaning and infrastructure fixes. NPS has appealed for public information and assured accountability.
