The National Police Service (NPS) has denied allegations of involvement in abductions, emphasizing its constitutional role as an institution mandated to arrest criminals, not abduct citizens.
In a press statement issued on December 26, 2024, Inspector General Douglas Kanja Kirocho addressed growing public concerns over reports implicating police officers in alleged abduction cases. “The National Police Service is deeply concerned with the ongoing allegations. For clarity, the constitutional mandate of the National Police Service is not to abduct but to arrest criminal offenders,” Kirocho stated.
The NPS reiterated that arrests follow strict legal protocols as outlined in the Service Standing Orders. All detentions must be recorded in the Occurrence Book and suspects arraigned in court unless released upon failure to meet procedural thresholds.
“For avoidance of doubt, the National Police Service is not involved in any abduction, and there is no police station in the country that is holding the reported abductees,” the statement read.
The Inspector General appealed for public restraint in disseminating unverified information, noting the potential harm to the institution’s reputation. “We therefore appeal to the public to refrain from spreading false, fabricated, malicious, distasteful, misinformed, and unverified information aimed at tarnishing the reputation and image of the National Police Service,” Kirocho added.
The NPS confirmed that the matter is under investigation by the Independent Policing Oversight Authority and other independent bodies. The service called on anyone with credible information about missing persons to report to the nearest police station.
Reaffirming its commitment to public service, the police urged responsible expression of freedom in Kenya’s democratic society. “Freedom not only comes with certain limitations but should at all times be exercised with utmost responsibility,” the statement concluded.
