NAIROBI, Kenya — The National Police Service (NPS) has dismissed allegations linking its officers to alleged abductions, insisting it neither conducts unlawful arrests nor detains individuals outside the legal framework.
In a press statement issued on Friday, NPS spokesperson Muchiri Nyaga said claims associating the Service with abductions are “false, misleading and unsupported by any credible evidence.”
“The National Police Service does not abduct people,” the statement reads. “Its mandate is unequivocal: to maintain law and order, prevent and detect crime, protect life and property, and arrest suspects strictly in accordance with the Constitution and the law.”
The statement comes amid heightened public debate over alleged enforced disappearances and abductions, with opposition leaders, human rights organisations and families of missing persons raising concerns over several reported cases in recent months.
According to the Service, all arrests carried out by police officers are documented in the Occurrence Book (OB), processed through lawful procedures and suspects presented before court within the timelines prescribed by law.
NPS further stated that it is not holding any individual reported or alleged to have been abducted.
“Furthermore, the Service confirms that it is not involved in any abductions, and no police station is currently holding any person reported or alleged to have been abducted,” the statement said.
The Service added that every report of a missing person or alleged abduction is investigated “promptly, thoroughly and professionally.”
It also acknowledged that some investigations have established that certain disappearances were allegedly staged to mislead the public or undermine confidence in the police, adding that criminal action would be taken where evidence supports such findings.
The police called on members of the public, the media, civil society organisations and other stakeholders to verify information before sharing it and urged anyone with credible information on missing persons or alleged abductions to report it to the nearest police station.
The statement also highlighted the oversight mechanisms governing police operations, noting that the Service remains subject to scrutiny by independent institutions, including the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA), the courts and Parliament.
NPS maintained that it continues to operate within the Constitution and other applicable laws while upholding professionalism and respect for human rights.
The clarification comes as allegations of enforced disappearances remain a significant governance and human rights issue in Kenya, with rights groups continuing to call for transparent investigations and accountability where violations are established. The police, however, have consistently denied institutional involvement in unlawful abductions and insist all policing operations are conducted within the law.