NAIROBI, Kenya- Inspector General of Police Douglas Kanja’s first two years at the helm of the National Police Service have combined promises of institutional reform with mounting scrutiny over police conduct, protest policing and the handling of missing persons cases.
Kanja was sworn in as Kenya’s fifth Inspector General on September 19, 2024, after a career spanning nearly four decades.
He took charge of a service already under intense public criticism following the 2024 anti-Finance Bill protests, and has since faced renewed questions over officers’ use of force and the government’s response to political demonstrations.
“Over the past two years, the National Police Service has achieved remarkable progress across multiple operational areas. Key milestones include advanced capacity-building initiatives, enhanced multi-agency security coordination, strategic welfare improvements for our officers, and heightened responsiveness to contemporary security challenges, among other relevant areas. These strides reflect a leadership approach that is both visionary and practical,” the Police Service said.
“Central to this transformation is the Inspector General’s signature rallying call to transform police stations and NPS service areas into centres of excellence for police operations and service delivery.”
Protest policing under scrutiny
Human rights groups have repeatedly raised concern about deaths during protests and allegations of police abuse. Missing Voices’ 2025 annual report recorded 125 killings by police during the year, with 68 recorded in June and July.
The figures describe cases documented during Kanja’s tenure; they do not, by themselves, establish personal responsibility by the Inspector General for each incident.
Scrutiny also reached the courts. Police barricaded roads leading into Nairobi’s central business district on June 25, 2026, despite an order requiring advance public notice.
The High Court found Kanja personally responsible for contempt after the National Police Service failed to comply.
Justice Patricia Nyaundi later pardoned him after he apologised and undertook to ensure future compliance, but warned that another breach could attract a custodial sentence.
In July 2026, Kanja and the Director of Criminal Investigations were ordered to appear in court over the disappearance of three men from Mathare.
Families alleged the men had been abducted by suspected state agents.
The two officials appeared after the court rejected a request to have junior officers represent them; the State told the court the men were not in police custody.
The case placed fresh attention on the police leadership’s duty to account for the whereabouts of people reported missing.
The controversies have prompted calls for Kanja to resign.
The Church and Clergy Association of Kenya accused the police of failing to contain armed gangs and ensure impartial policing, while opposition figures have challenged him to guarantee political gatherings can proceed safely.
Other church leaders have cautioned that replacing the Inspector General alone would not resolve deeper problems across the security and justice system.
Kanja points to reform and crime figures
Kanja has also cited changes intended to improve police capacity and officers’ welfare.
He has pointed to recruitment, new vehicles, housing, comprehensive medical cover and plans to reorganise police formations, including creating specialised units.
At a September 2026 event, he said investments in housing, medical cover and vehicle leasing “have had a force multiplier effect in our policing duties.”
The National Police Service has reported a 5.1 per cent decline in recorded crime compared with 2024 and an 8.4 per cent decline compared with 2023.
Kanja has presented the figures as evidence of progress, alongside the recruitment of 10,000 officers and an internal review of police systems by the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission.
Kanja’s second year therefore ends with a mixed record.
The Service is promoting investment and restructuring, while rights concerns and court interventions continue to test public confidence.
The central question is whether announced reforms will translate into policing that protects the public, respects court orders and holds officers accountable.
