Police officers in charge of detainees will face immediate interdiction whenever a suspect dies in custody under a new directive issued by Inspector General of Police Douglas Kanja.
Kanja has ordered that three officers at the station where a death occurs be removed from duty as investigations begin. They are the Occurrence Book (OB) recorder, sentry officer and duty officer.
The Inspector General said the officers have a direct responsibility for the safety and welfare of people held in police cells and must account for what happens to detainees under their watch.
“Unless circumstances are beyond one’s control, those responsible should face the law. They know what to do to safeguard the welfare of those in custody,” he said.
The directive means the officers responsible for recording and monitoring events at the station, guarding the cells and overseeing operations during a shift will be subjected to interdiction whenever a suspect dies in custody.
Kanja said the growing number of deaths involving suspects held in police cells was worrying and urged officers to take their responsibilities seriously.
He said greater accountability was needed among officers entrusted with people in custody, particularly those charged with managing and monitoring the cells.
The directive follows the death of a suspect in a police cell in Makueni, an incident that has raised questions over the circumstances surrounding the death.
The case remains under investigation, with the deceased’s relatives rejecting claims that he died by suicide. The family has instead called for an independent inquiry to establish what happened while the man was in police custody.
Kanja issued the directive on Wednesday, August 12, during the Sensitisation Forum on New Service Standing Orders and Police Reforms at the National Police Leadership Academy (NPLA) in Ngong.
His announcement comes as the police service reviews its procedures and pushes for greater responsibility among officers handling suspects and other people held in custody.