Global anti-corruption watchdog Transparency International has strongly condemned the sudden arrest of Nairobi’s Central Police Station Officer Commanding Station, Chief Inspector Dishen Angoya.
The senior officer was detained after exercising his administrative discretion to release 64 citizens who had been rounded up during the recent nationwide fuel price protests.
The decision to arrest the OCS on allegations of abuse of office has sparked intense public outrage and swift condemnation from human rights organizations.
Transparency International Kenya termed the state’s aggressive move as an blatant attempt to weaponize the criminal justice system against officers who choose to uphold constitutional freedoms.
According to civil society leaders, the 64 individuals released by the OCS were peaceful citizens and transport operators caught up in a sweeping police dragnet during the recent matatu strike.
The civil group maintained that the officer acted lawfully and humanely, noting that detaining individuals for merely expressing economic frustrations violates the right to peaceful assembly.
The crisis took a dramatic turn at Lang’ata Police Station, where Chief Inspector Angoya was being held. Angry crowds gathered outside the facility to demand his immediate release, praising him as a rare example of a professional officer.
Amidst the mounting tension, the detained OCS reportedly fell ill in his cell and had to be rushed to a local hospital under heavy police guard.
Transparency International has warned that punishing police commanders for refusing to enforce illegal political directives undermines police reforms.
The organization called for the unconditional withdrawal of all charges against the officer, urging the government to address the underlying economic grievances of Kenyans rather than targeting its own law enforcement officers.