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Former Law Society of Kenya (LSK) President Nelson Havi has called out police officers carrying out arrests in the country without proper identification or uniform.

In a statement posted on his X account on Tuesday, January 14, 2025, the lawyer urged Kenyans to be wary of individuals seeking arrests without proper identification, terming them as abductors.

“As I said earlier, anyone without a police uniform and identification badge seeking to arrest and hold you or anyone else in your midst is an abductor,” Havi stated.

Havi was referring to a viral video of an incident that occurred in Nakuru County on Monday, January 13, 2025.

Thwarted abduction

The incident occurred when members of the public confronted individuals who claimed to be plainclothes police officers attempting to arrest a man in the city.

The residents approached the alleged officer after he had handcuffed a man and demanded to know what the offence was.

“You must identify yourself. This is how you are abducting people. Free him. You are not leaving this place with him,” a resident could be heard shouting as the scuffle continued. 

The officer in his defence, claimed that the man had carried bhang and that was the reason for the arrest, an answer that did not sit well with some of the residents.

 “Why are you arresting him? Show us that bhang you are claiming he has,” a member of the public yelled.

The outnumbered officer in civilian clothing was forced to take a step back and climb on top of a flower bed while still trying to hold onto the suspect.

Soon after, boda boda riders, along with other residents, rushed in to grab the suspect, while one of the women was seen using her hands to hit the officer in an attempt to free the subdued young man.

It was at that moment that a uniformed police officer armed with an AK-47 arrived to assist his colleague and took control of the situation, separating the suspect from the man claiming to be a police officer.

 “Free him! Free him!” chanted the residents as the uniformed officer, who had been stationed at a nearby bank, struggled to calm the crowd. 

Minutes later, the officer in civilian attire unlocked the handcuffs, setting the suspect free, which elicited cheers from the crowd.

Self defence

Havi additionally termed actions resulting from situations where individuals don’t identify themselves as self-defence.

“Self-defence or the defence of a third party, is a complete answer to a charge of manslaughter,” he said.

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