The Kenya School of Law (KSL) Students’ Governing Council President John Lenda was reportedly arrested alongside several students during a gala in Nairobi on Friday night, August 14, 2026.
According to a statement shared by a student identifying himself as Kutalang’i, the group was being held at Hardy Police Station in Nairobi on Saturday.
“Tweeting from Hardy Police Station,” the student said, adding that he and other students had been arrested by officers from Hardy Police Station the previous night and were still in custody with Lenda.
The circumstances that led to the arrests had not been officially explained by the police, KSL or Lenda at the time of publication.
Reports indicate that the incident happened at around 11pm during or shortly after the Kenya School of Law Cocktail Gala held at Kilbaf Gardens near Hardy Shopping Centre in Karen.
The event brought together KSL students and members of the legal community for networking and social interaction.
Footage circulating online reportedly shows a tense confrontation involving students and police officers, with several people appearing to be placed inside a police vehicle.
Some students are heard calling for Lenda’s release as the vehicle leaves the venue.
Unverified accounts circulating after the incident claimed that some students may have intervened when police officers attempted to arrest Lenda, resulting in additional arrests.
However, the specific allegations against Lenda and the other students had not been publicly confirmed by authorities.
Lenda is currently serving as president of the KSL Students’ Governing Council, the student leadership body representing learners at the institution.
His election followed his earlier selection as a Class G representative after joining the Advocates Training Programme in 2026. Public profiles associated with Lenda also identify him as a trainee advocate and law graduate.
The reported detention has attracted attention among law students and members of the wider legal fraternity, particularly because of continuing public concern over the treatment of people held in police custody.
The latest incident comes amid increased scrutiny of police detention facilities following reported deaths in custody.
Inspector General of Police Douglas Kanja recently directed that officers responsible for police cells, including the Occurrence Book recording officer, cell sentry and duty officer, be interdicted whenever a detainee dies in custody, pending investigations.
Despite the growing attention surrounding Lenda’s reported arrest, important details remain unanswered, including the exact reason for his detention, whether any charges have been preferred and how many students were arrested.
Until the police or another authorised institution provides a formal account, claims circulating on social media about the circumstances of the arrests should be treated as allegations rather than established facts.
The reported arrest has nevertheless sparked concern because it involves the elected leader of one of Kenya’s most prominent institutions for legal training and comes at a time when police accountability remains a subject of intense public debate.