Police attempt to arrest an anti-femicide protestor in the streets of Nairobi on December 10, 2024.
At least 150 law enforcement officers have been interdicted in the last five years over allegations of murder, corruption and misconduct.
A review of publicly available information by Sunday Nation comes even as questions remain on what happens after the interdictions, and how long it takes for victims to get justice.
While some cases have been taken to court, in other circumstances, police officers have returned to work quietly without facing any consequences. The latest case under investigation is the murder of teacher-cum-blogger, Albert Ojwang, on June 8.
Officer Commanding Station (OCS) Samson Talaam, his deputy, Samuel Ng’ang’a and police officer James Mukhwana have been interdicted over the matter.
Central Police Station OCS Samson Talaam before the Milimani Law Courts in Nairobi on June 16, 2025.
A peek at various cases points to officers using excessive force and firearms while performing their duties. Enforced disappearances are also a cause for concern.
Media reports sampled by Sunday Nation over a five-year period show that 15 officers of the Special Services Unit at the Directorate of Criminal Investigations — who were linked to the abduction and disappearance of two Indian nationals as well as a Kenyan — are among those who have been interdicted.
Zulfiqar Ahmad Khan (left) and inset, with Mr Mohammad Zaid Sami Kidwai (with beards). The two disappeared in Kenya in July 2022.
Chief Inspector of Police Peter Muthee and other officers are under prosecution at a magistrate’s court in Kahawa, Kiambu County over the disappearance of the foreigners just before the last General Election. The officers were interdicted in 2023 after their arrest.
Recently, the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), Renson Ingonga, lost an application to deny them bail pending trial. Both the High Court and Court of Appeal upheld the magistrate's decision to release the suspects.
“We were not convinced that the two courts below erred in any way in finding that there were no compelling reasons for denying the respondents' release on bail/bond and an appeal therefrom would be unarguable,” said justices Patrick Kiage, Lydia Achode and Joel Ngugi.
The DPP had argued that the trial court erred by disregarding key considerations, including the gravity of the alleged offences, the likelihood of interference with witnesses, and the public interest in ensuring justice for crimes against humanity.
Unending anarchy
Still, in 2023, 67 officers, who were pushed out of the National Police Service after being implicated in bribery and corruption malpractices, returned to work following a court order.
They had been interdicted on recommendation of the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) to the Head of Public Service Felix Koskei. The Inspector-General of Police was directed to interdict the officers by Koskei.
A human rights activist sued on their behalf of the police, citing violation of the Constitution because as the officers were not granted an opportunity to defend themselves.
Further, the petition challenged the powers of the Head of Public Service to give orders to the police boss. The activist noted that the National Police Service is an independent entity.
The EACC was accused of failing to uphold professional ethics, accountability for administrative actions, transparency, and timely provision of information to the public.
Senseless violence
Elsewhere, four police officers are under trial for allegedly beating and injuring university students during a 2019 protest over increased insecurity in Juja, Kiambu County. They were interdicted following a public uproar.
And last year, eight officers from Gigiri Police Station in Nairobi were interdicted in connection with the escape of 13 remandees on August 20, 2024. Suspected serial killer, Collins Jumaisi, was among the escapees.
Collins Jumaisi Khalusha, the main suspect in the Kware killings.
He is accused of murdering and dismembering 42 women and dumping their bodies at an abandoned quarry in Embakasi. The suspect is still at large.
The officers who were on duty during the jailbreak were arraigned on charges of aiding the suspect to escape. They denied the charges, and the case is pending trial.
In the same year, prison warder and vocal social media user, Jackson Kuria alias Shakur the cop, was also sent packing over allegations of participating in the Anti-Finance Bill protests in June 2024.
The warder was charged with publishing false information, in violation of Section 23 of the Computer Misuse and Cyber Crime Act. The case revolves around allegations of linking the Executive to the abduction of government critics.
Prison warder Jackson Kuria Kihara, alias Cop Shakur, in court in January 2025.
He denied the charges and is out on a bond of Sh100,000, pending the trial.
Four years ago, in August 2021, six police officers were interdicted over the murder of two siblings at Kianjokoma village in Embu County while enforcing the Covid-19 curfew rules.
The officers, James Mwaniki Njogu, Benson Mbuthia, Consolata Kariuki, Nicholas Cheruiyot, Martin Wanyama, and Lilian Cherono, are accused of murdering Benson Njiru and Emmanuel Mutura on the night of August 1, 2021.
The trial is scheduled to resume on July 2 at the High Court in Milimani.
In 2021, former Commissioner-General of the Kenya Prisons Service, Wycliffe Ogallo, was interdicted and pushed out of office following the escape of three terror convicts from Kamiti Maximum Security Prison. He was sacked by former President Uhuru Kenyatta.
Kenya Prisons Service Commissioner General Wycliffe Ogallo during a past event. He has barred graduate wardens who have served less than 20 years from being promoted.
Twelve prison warders were also interdicted and taken to court. They have since been found to have a case to answer by a magistrate’s court in Kahawa.
Last month, 12 police officers were suspended after six suspects escaped at Siaya Law Courts. The suspects made the daring escape just as they were walking out of the courtroom. Investigations are underway.
In Nairobi, two officers, Klinzy Masinde Baraza and Duncan Kiprono, are in remand over claims of shooting a hawker during anti-government protests last Tuesday. They were interdicted by the National Police Service.
Police officers Klinzy Barasa and Duncan Kiprono arraigned in Milimani, two days after the gun attack in Nairobi CBD.
In another case, four senior police officers were interdicted in the case of the murder of Baby Samantha Pendo in Kisumu County in 2017. John Chengo Masha, Lina Kogey, Cyprine Robi Wankio and James Rono were recently also charged with crimes against humanity and rape. A warrant for the arrest of Mohammed Bar, a retired officer also implicated in the matter, is still in place.
Six-month-old Samantha Pendo who died of head injuries sustained during a police raid at their family home in Nyalenda slums in Kisumu in August 2017.
In Nakuru County, 10 police officers were arrested last week in connection with the fatal shooting of a civilian in London Estate.
In the same city, six Kenya Wildlife Service rangers at Nakuru National Park were interdicted over the abduction of missing fisherman, Brian Odhiambo, in January this year.
In a separate case, also in Nakuru, 10 officers are in custody over the murder of sand harvester Michael Mwaura.
The incident is under active investigation by the DCI.
John Chengo Masha, Lina Kogey, Cyprine Robi Wankio, and James Rono were recently charged after the DPP approved the charges against them.
Mr Masha, a senior officer, faces charges of murder, rape, and crimes against humanity under the International Crimes Act.
He is accused of failing to prevent his subordinates from storming civilian homes, where they allegedly beat residents with clubs, raped more than 20 women, and subjected them to other forms of abuse.
The prosecution said that his command, police officers broke into several homes, tear gassed, assaulted residents, and raped women.
The NPS had initially interdicted 12 police officers but the charges against seven others after months of court battles as civil society organisations pushed for the prosecution of the senior police officers.
Masha faces charges of murder, rape, and crimes against humanity under the International Crimes Act.
He is accused of failing to prevent his subordinates from storming civilian homes, where they allegedly beat residents with clubs, raped more than 20 women, and subjected them to other forms of abuse.
Limani Senior Magistrate Benmark Ekhubi directed that the officers remain in custody as investigations by the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (Ipoa) and the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) continue.
In the controversial death of teacher and blogger Albert Ojwang’ at Central Police Station in Nairobi, all the officers were detained for 14 days, to allow the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) to conclude investigations into the death of Ojwang. Preliminary investigations showed that Ojwang’ was tortured.
In Nyandarua County, the OCS of Rwanyambo Police Post was interdicted, pending investigations, after a woman miscarried while in police custody.
Although the police spokesperson, Muchiri Nyag,a did not reveal the name of the officer who was interdicted, he promised to give progress of the investigations.
In Nairobi, four senior police officers were interdicted and are facing charges for crimes against humanity, rape and murder of Baby Samantha Pendo and 39 other people in Kisumu in 2017.
In Nakuru city last week, 10 police officers were arrested in connection with the fatal shooting of a civilian in London Estate.
Seven police officers arraigned in a Nakuru court on June 17, 2025, after they were accused of shooting and killing Daniel Nderitu in London Estate.
The incident occurred following a confrontation between police officers and residents during a routine security patrol. The incident is under investigation by IPOA.
The county has been characterised by rising incidents and confrontations between police and citizens.
Recently, six Kenya Wildlife Service rangers at Nakuru National Park were interdicted after being charged with the abduction of missing fisherman Brian Odhiambo in January this year.
In a separate case in Nakuru, ten police officers are in custody over the murder of sand harvester Michael Mwaura. The incident is under active investigation by the DCI.
