Drama unfolded within the police service after a senior officer attached to Nairobi’s Central Police Station was arrested over the alleged unlawful release of dozens of suspects arrested during Monday’s fuel price protests.
The officer, a Chief Inspector of Police serving as the Officer Commanding Station (OCS) at Central Police Station, was apprehended by senior police commanders on Monday and later detained at Lang’ata Police Station as investigations commenced.
According to police authorities, the OCS who goes by the name Dishen Angoya is accused of abuse of office after allegedly authorising the release of 64 suspects who had been arrested in connection with public order offences during demonstrations over the rising cost of fuel.
Nairobi OCS arrested for allegedly freeing protest suspects without authority. Photo: Courtesy.
Investigators are now seeking to establish whether proper legal procedures were followed before the suspects were freed.
Nairobi Regional Police Commander Issa Mohamud confirmed that the officer was under internal investigation for allegedly improperly conferring a benefit through the release of the detainees.
He noted that the matter was being handled administratively as senior commanders determine the next course of action.
The arrest comes amid heightened scrutiny of police operations following violent protests witnessed in several parts of the country on Monday.
Police said close to 1,000 people were arrested nationwide, with more than 200 apprehended in Nairobi alone.
Authorities also reported that at least four people were killed and over 30 others injured during the unrest.
Security agencies further revealed that several vehicles were torched, property vandalised and businesses looted as chaos erupted in different towns.
Public transport operations also remained paralysed on Tuesday after matatu operators withdrew services over insecurity concerns.
Meanwhile, Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen accused political actors of infiltrating the demonstrations and mobilising criminal gangs to incite violence, loot businesses and intimidate government supporters.
He maintained that while the government respects the constitutional right to protest, criminal activities carried out under the guise of demonstrations would not be tolerated.
