Police commanders will have to answer for the conduct of officers under their watch, Inspector General Douglas Kanja has warned, as he ordered senior officers to tighten control within their units and take action against misconduct before it damages the image of the National Police Service.
Kanja said officers who turn to crime betray the trust placed in them by Kenyans and the oath they took when joining the service. He also faulted weaknesses in supervision, particularly among lower-ranking officers, saying commanders must do more to ensure those under them meet the required standards.
“Issues of officers engaging in crime is both a disgrace to the service and a serious betrayal to the oath of office,” Kanja said.
He said the presence of officers involved in criminal activities was a sign that some commanders were not exercising enough oversight over their formations.
“The emergence of these incidents portrays a disconnect on both supervision and accountability, especially at the lower ranks,” he said.
The IG directed senior officers to keep a close watch on their junior colleagues and deal with behaviour that goes against the standards of the police service.
Kanja said the National Police Service would not allow misconduct by individual officers to overshadow the work of thousands of police officers who continue to serve professionally.
“We are not going to allow a few officers to damage the image of thousands of hardworking police officers who are ready to work and are professionals in the discharge of their duties,” he said.
Inspector General Douglas Kanja arriving at the National Police Leadership Academy (NPLA), Ngong, on August 12, 2026.
PHOTO/NPS
His remarks come against the backdrop of investigations into the death of former African Institute of Mental and Brain Health director Dr Victoria Mutiso. The Directorate of Criminal Investigations has said three police officers were involved in the killing, putting the conduct of serving officers and the effectiveness of police oversight under fresh scrutiny.
Kanja warned that commanders would also be judged by the results they achieve in controlling and managing their formations. Those who consistently record poor command and control could be removed from their responsibilities and subjected to the required procedures.
“We shall ensure that commanders posting poor results in terms of commanding controls are relieved of their duties, command responsibilities and dealt with procedurally,” he said.
“Let this message reach all commanders,” Kanja added, urging them to “pull up their socks”.
The IG also turned his attention to police handling of complaints from the public, raising concern over delays and failures to respond to reports involving land disputes, domestic violence and threats to life.
He said officers should treat such complaints seriously because prompt intervention could stop some disputes and threats from turning into more serious crimes.
“It is therefore saddening to see that some of the situations we find ourselves in could have been averted through diligent and responsible policing,” he said.
Kanja encouraged officers facing difficulties in dealing with cases to seek guidance rather than allow challenges to delay action.
“You are at liberty to consult horizontally and vertically if need be,” he said, stressing the need for officers to use available channels when handling difficult situations.