NAIROBI, Kenya – The Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) has accused the National Police Service of failing to report the majority of protest-related deaths over the past year, raising fresh questions about transparency and accountability.
According to IPOA’s latest monitoring report, 65 people were killed during four separate demonstrations between June 2024 and July 2025. Police, however, officially acknowledged only five deaths.
The watchdog said the omission violates the Sixth Schedule of CAP 84 of the Laws of Kenya, which requires police to report all fatalities to IPOA.
“The failure to notify IPOA of deaths undermines independent oversight, violates legal reporting obligations and signals a worrying culture of non-compliance,” the report stated.
IPOA further documented 342 civilians and 171 police officers injured during the protests. The authority has so far witnessed 61 postmortems and pledged to attend the remaining four once scheduled.
Police spokesperson Muchiri Nyagah defended the service, insisting officers operate within the law and are subject to due process when misconduct is established.
“The service operates within the law, and any officer found to have violated it is held accountable if there is sufficient evidence,” Nyagah said.
The oversight body also urged Inspector General of Police Douglas Kanja to strengthen accountability measures by:
- Preventing officers from concealing their identities or using unmarked vehicles.
- Ensuring all police vehicles and assets are clearly marked.
- Adopting body-worn cameras and videography during protests to aid evidence-based prosecutions.
The report also faulted the police for refusing or ignoring protest notifications from organisers, sometimes resorting to force even when legal requirements were met.
IPOA stressed that the law only obliges organisers to notify authorities, not to seek permission.
It recommended that the Inspector General establish structured dialogue with organisers to minimise clashes and reduce fatalities.
