The National Police Service (NPS) has strongly denied persistent allegations linking its officers to abductions, insisting that the claims are false even as the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) continues investigating alleged disappearances, unlawful detentions and excessive use of force during the June 25 Gen Z anniversary protests.
In a statement released on Friday, July 3, the police maintained that neither the Service nor any police station across the country was involved in holding people who had allegedly been abducted.
"The National Police Service has taken note of the persistent circulation of allegations linking its officers to abductions. The Service categorically rejects these claims. They are false, misleading, and unsupported by any credible evidence," the statement read.
The statement was issued just a day after Interior Principal Secretary Raymond Omollo also dismissed claims of abductions following reports of disappearances linked to the June 25 protests.
It also followed a front-page report by The Standard that featured testimonies from individuals who claimed they had been abducted, held incommunicado and tortured by suspected state operatives, with some of the reported cases yet to be resolved.
Despite the growing public concern, the police insisted that their mandate is limited to enforcing the law and that every arrest is carried out in line with the Constitution.
"The NPS does not abduct people. 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 Service stated.
According to the NPS, every arrest is recorded in the Occurrence Book (OB), processed through lawful procedures and suspects are presented before court within the timelines provided by law.
The Service further maintained that no police station is currently holding anyone 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 added.
The latest response comes as IPOA investigates multiple allegations of abductions, unlawful detentions and excessive force during the June 25 demonstrations.
The watchdog says it has already recorded statements from several individuals who claim they were abducted or assaulted during the protests.
IPOA has also expressed concern over the conduct of some police officers, citing the use of balaclavas, plain clothes, concealed vehicle registration plates and alleged excessive force while dispersing demonstrators in Nairobi and Mombasa.
While acknowledging reports of missing persons, the police said every complaint is investigated "promptly, thoroughly, and professionally."
The Service further claimed that some investigations have established that certain disappearances were deliberately staged to mislead the public and erode confidence in the police.
"In some instances, investigations have established that disappearances were staged with the intent to mislead the public or undermine confidence in the Service. Where criminal conduct is established, the law will be applied without hesitation," the statement said.
The police also urged anyone with credible information regarding a missing person or alleged abduction to report it to the nearest police station, while calling on members of the public, the media and civil society organisations to verify information before sharing it.
Reaffirming its commitment to professionalism and respect for human rights, the National Police Service said it remains subject to oversight by independent institutions, including IPOA, the courts and Parliament, and pledged continued adherence to the Constitution and the law.
