IPOA Raises Alarm Over Police Conduct During Deadly Protests

The Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) has raised serious concerns about the conduct of law enforcement officers during the recent wave of deadly protests across the country, as well as last year’s anti-Finance Bill demonstrations.

In a newly released report, IPOA revealed that since the onset of the protests, 65 Kenyans have lost their lives, 342 civilians and 171 police officers have sustained injuries, and there has been widespread destruction of public and private property, including the vandalism of businesses and police stations.

The authority received 48 complaints of police brutality and 70 other related cases during the June 25th protests — a day when Kenyans marked the anniversary of the June 24, 2024 demonstrations and the Saba Saba protests held earlier this month.

“Across these protests, IPOA observed significant breaches of constitutional policing standards, including disproportionate use of force, lack of professionalism, and failure to uphold public safety and rights,” the report stated.

IPOA noted that violent groups infiltrated the initially peaceful demonstrations, undermining the principle of peaceful assembly and contributing to the escalation of violence, injuries, and fatalities.

The authority also observed that some police units deployed to manage the protests used lethal crowd control methods in violation of Article 37 of the Kenyan Constitution, which guarantees the right to peaceful assembly. Additionally, IPOA reported:

• Police failed to intervene during Gen-Z counter-protests,
• Some officers operated with concealed number plates and hidden name tags,
• Uniformed and non-uniformed officers alike were implicated in escalating tensions.

On the conduct of protesters, IPOA acknowledged that most began peacefully. However, infiltration by groups allegedly hired to protect businesses — including some in civilian clothes and others in uniform — changed the nature of the demonstrations.

The report describes how rival demonstrators, claiming to protect property from looters, emerged in Central Business Districts (CBDs) of Nairobi, Mombasa, and Eldoret, some wielding crude weapons such as sticks, stones, and knives. These groups reportedly moved through the streets on foot and motorcycles, clashing with protesters.

Arrests and Fatalities

Between June 12 and July 2025, IPOA documented:

• 1,126 arrests linked to the protests,
• 223 suspects arraigned in court across the country,
• Five of the 65 protest-related deaths directly attributed to actions by the National Police Service (NPS), in accordance with the Sixth Schedule of CAP 84, Laws of Kenya.

Recommendations and Way Forward

Led by Chairperson Ahmed Issack Hassan, IPOA highlighted systemic challenges affecting policing of protests, including:

• Inconsistent enforcement of the Public Order Act,
• Deployment of unidentified officers and unmarked vehicles,
• Lack of first aid provision for injured individuals,
• Poor welfare of officers,
• Inadequate coordination with protest organizers.

“These shortcomings collectively contributed to the injuries, fatalities, and destruction witnessed during the demonstrations,” said Hassan.

IPOA reaffirmed its commitment to monitoring police operations that impact public safety, documenting human rights violations, and making actionable recommendations to relevant state bodies. This, the authority said, aligns with Article 244 of the Constitution, which mandates police professionalism, discipline, transparency, and accountability.