Civil society groups push to disband elite police units over abductions

Kenyan police officers arrest activists in front of the Office of the President.  [File. Standard]

Civil society groups have renewed calls to disband Kenya's elite police units after the safe return of activist Ndiangui Kinyagua, who disappeared nearly two weeks ago.

Kinyagua appeared on Thursday before High Court Judge Chacha Mwita after allegedly being abducted from his home in Kinoo, Kiambu County, on the night of Saturday, June 21, during an armed operation involving officers from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations.

The Police Reforms Working Group Kenya, a coalition of more than 20 human rights organisations, condemned the operation, saying it lacked a court order and violated constitutional safeguards.

“It is our view that the weekly incidents of excessive use of police force, the practice of Friday arrests and enforced disappearances have eroded public confidence in the National Police Service,” said the coalition.

The group urged authorities to disband multi-agency police units and arrest commanders and officers involved in enforced disappearances.

They linked Kinyagua’s case to a pattern that includes  the 88-hour detention of software developer Rose Njeri and the recent death of teacher Albert Ojwang' in police custody.

“The continued use of extra-legal arrests, particularly over weekends without summons, is fuelling national anxiety and eroding public trust in the police,” noted the group.

They argued that Kenya’s Constitution under Articles 49, 50 and 51 provides clear guidelines on arrest and arraignment, which police often ignore.

The coalition also commended Mwita for protecting civil liberties through the use of habeas corpus.

According to the group, these incidents point to a trend of impunity and intimidation within elite police units, undermining public trust in the justice system.