NAIROBI, Kenya – A senior police officer attached to Nairobi’s Central Police Station spent Monday night in custody after being arrested over the controversial release of dozens of fuel protest suspects arrested during the nationwide fuel price protests.
The officer, a chief inspector serving as the Officer Commanding Station (OCS) at Central Police Station, was arrested by senior police commanders and later detained at Lang’ata Police Station pending investigations.
Police authorities accused Dishen Angoya of abuse of office after he allegedly authorised the release of 64 fuel protest suspects arrested on May 18 in connection with public order offences linked to anti-fuel price demonstrations.
The move triggered concern within police ranks, with senior commanders now handling the matter internally as investigations continue.
Nairobi police commander Issa Mohamud confirmed the arrest, saying the officer was being investigated for allegedly improperly conferring a benefit upon himself through the release of the suspects.
“We are handling the matter internally before we decide the way forward,” he said.
Under police regulations, OCSs have powers to release suspects from custody under certain circumstances, although authorities now question whether proper procedures were followed in this case.
The developments emerged as police intensified operations following violent protests witnessed across parts of the country on Monday.
Authorities said close to 1,000 people were arrested nationwide during demonstrations sparked by rising fuel prices and the high cost of living.
In Nairobi alone, more than 200 people were arrested amid running battles between protesters and police.
At least four people were killed while more than 30 others sustained injuries during the unrest.
Police also reported widespread destruction, saying at least four vehicles were torched, several others vandalised and property looted during the chaos.
The transport strike entered a second day on Tuesday after public transport operators continued withdrawing services from major routes.
Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen accused political actors of hijacking the demonstrations, claiming criminal gangs had been mobilised to fuel violence, loot businesses and intimidate government supporters.
Speaking in Nairobi, Murkomen said while the government respected the constitutional right to protest, it would not tolerate what he described as organised criminality.
“Looting, violence, blocking roads, and vandalising public and private property can in no way bring down the prices,” Murkomen said.
He linked the spike in local fuel prices to the global energy crisis caused by the ongoing conflict involving the United States, Israel and Iran, saying disruptions around the Strait of Hormuz had increased shipping and insurance costs.
Murkomen further alleged that “rogue politicians” had infiltrated the protests and sponsored attacks targeting government projects and leaders allied to the Kenya Kwanza administration.
He cited the alleged looting of Khetia supermarkets linked to a pro-government MP, the burning of a UDA office in Wote, Makueni County, and the torching of two trucks at the Rironi-Mau Summit road project as evidence of what he termed a coordinated campaign to spread fear.
