Human rights campaigners in Presidnt William Ruto’s backyard, Nandi County, are calling for immediate action on rising incidence of death of suspects in police custody, saying the National Police Service must take responsibility to restore public confidence in law enforcement.

The protests in Nandi are informed by revelations that over the past one year more than 15 suspects have been killed in police custody. The deaths are linked to police use of excessive force – many times on instructions of station commanders and senior police officers.

The use of force became more lethal and vicious after Presidnt Ruto gave the law-enforcers the greenlight to “shoot the leg” of government critics. The presidential greenlight was further amplified by his Cabinet Secretary for Interior Kipchumba Murkomen who also warned the public that the police would not hesitate to use live bullets in self-defence.

Following the executive warnings, the Missing Voices 2025 Annual Report by Missing Voices Coalition says there is a crisis of extrajudicial killings and enforced disappearances in Kenya.

“Behind every statistic is a life cut short, a family left behind and a justice system that too often fails to act. Since 2018, the Missing Voices Coalition has documented and verified cases of police killings and enforced disappearances across Kenya,” it says.

The 2025 report builds on this work, presenting verified data, trends, survivor testimonies, and concrete recommendations for change. The report notes that since 2025, there have been 131 total incidents of police violence recorded and 125 cases of police killings.

In Nandi County, the concern comes against the backdrop of renewed national scrutiny of the police following the recent mysterious death of 19-year-old boda boda rider Erick Otieno who had been detained at Muthaiga Police Station.

A post-mortem examination found that Otieno died from massive internal bleeding caused by blunt-force trauma, while the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) has taken over investigations into the circumstances surrounding his death.

Other cases that have continued to fuel public concern include the death of Gideon Makau at Kilungu Police Station in Makueni and that of teacher and blogger Albert Ojwang, who died while in police custody at Central Police Station, Nairobi, in June 2025.

On Wednesday (August 12), Inspector General of Police Douglas Kanja directed heads of police stations countrywide to interdict officers implicated deaths of remandees.

In Nandi County, Residents said suspects should not be treated by police as criminals who have already been convicted, arguing that every arrested person is entitled to due process and protection of life.

A human rights advocate John Limo said police stations should be places where suspects are protected as they await investigation and court proceedings rather than places where their lives are put at risk.

“Arrest does not take away a person’s constitutional rights. A suspect remains innocent until proven guilty, and the police have a duty to protect every person in their custody,” Limo said.

A civil society activist Rose Kimeli said the recurring allegations of brutality demanded more than transfers of officers, calling for investigations that lead to prosecution whenever wrongdoing is established.

“We need accountability that goes beyond moving officers from one station to another. If an officer violates the law, disciplinary and criminal justice systems must take their course,” she said.

Concerns over police conduct are particularly sensitive in Nandi following the January 2026 incident in Nandi Hills where CCTV footage showed police officers assaulting young men at a pool table establishment.

The incident triggered widespread condemnation and renewed calls for accountability within the police service.

A religious leader Peter Kamau urged police officers to remember that their authority comes with a responsibility to uphold human dignity.

“Security officers should protect life, uphold justice and treat suspects with dignity. We cannot build a peaceful society where those entrusted with enforcing the law are accused of breaking it,” said Kamau.

Community elder Chris Kisorio said residents were losing confidence whenever suspects died before appearing in court, stressing that investigations should be conducted transparently.

“Let the courts determine whether a person is guilty or innocent. The work of the police is to investigate and present evidence, not to punish suspects,” the elder said.

The residents also called for greater use of CCTV cameras in police stations, proper medical assessment of detainees and independent investigations whenever a person dies in custody.

Their concerns echo wider calls for stronger accountability within the NPS. In Parliament, legislators have argued that CCTV and body cameras could help establish what happens inside police stations and protect both suspects and officers from false or unsubstantiated accusations.

The latest directive by the IGP Kanja requiring the interdiction of officers on duty whenever a suspect dies in custody is viewed as an important step but they want it followed by thorough investigations and firm action against officers found culpable.

For Nandi residents, the police authority must be exercised within the law and no suspect should lose his or her life simply because they have been arrested.

A 19-year-old boda boda rider Erick Otieno who was allegedly brutalized and left for death at Muthaiga police station. Nandi county residents want deaths of suspects at police cells to come to an end.

• A Tell Media report s