NAIROBI, Kenya- The Independent Medico-Legal Unit (IMLU) has welcomed a directive by Inspector General of Police Douglas Kanja ordering the immediate interdiction of officers on duty whenever a suspect dies in police custody.
Under the directive, officers including the Occurrence Book (O.B.) handler, cell sentry and duty officer are to be interdicted following a custodial death.
IMLU said the decision is an important step towards addressing impunity in police custody and restoring public confidence in law enforcement agencies.
The organisation said deaths in places of detention amount to a serious human rights concern and violate the State’s responsibility to protect people under its care.
20 custodial deaths documented in 2026
According to IMLU, it has documented 20 deaths in police custody so far in 2026, the same number it recorded in places of detention throughout 2025.
Of the 20 cases documented this year, 19 victims were adults—18 men and one woman—aged between 25 and 64 years. The remaining victim was an infant boy who had been accompanying his mother in custody.
IMLU said it supported forensic autopsies and medico-legal documentation in 18 of the cases.
The organisation said forensic findings established three main causes of death.
Eight victims died from suffocation resulting from hanging or neck compression, while five died from severe physical violence and blunt force trauma, including serious head injuries.
Another five victims died from underlying medical conditions, including severe hypertension, diabetes, ulcers and internal infections, which IMLU said deteriorated due to alleged neglect, poor detention conditions and lack of timely medical care.
Families receive psychosocial support
IMLU also said it provided family therapy to 13 bereaved families following the deaths.
The organisation said the sessions addressed severe grief, post-traumatic stress disorder and acute anxiety among relatives of the victims.
IMLU urged families and communities to remain vigilant and report cases of police misconduct, torture and deaths in custody to relevant oversight bodies.
Calls for independent investigations
While welcoming Kanja’s directive, IMLU said additional measures are necessary to ensure the policy results in meaningful accountability and institutional reform.
The organisation called for prompt, independent and comprehensive investigations into all deaths and torture cases in places of detention.
It also urged the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) to be given unhindered access, full cooperation and adequate resources to investigate cases and facilitate criminal prosecutions where necessary.
IMLU further called for the operationalisation of the National Coroners Service Act, arguing that an independent National Coroners Service would help ensure impartial forensic autopsies, death inquiries and inquests.
The organisation also demanded both individual and command accountability, saying officers directly involved in violence or negligence should face prosecution, while station commanders and regional supervisors should be held accountable where they fail to prevent, report or act on misconduct.
IMLU said it would continue monitoring the implementation of Kanja’s directive while advocating for police reforms and supporting victims and survivors of police misconduct.
The organisation said its broader objective remains the eradication of torture, extrajudicial executions and arbitrary detention and the strengthening of human rights and the rule of law in Kenya.
