The Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) has officially launched investigations into reports of abductions, physical assaults, and excessive use of force by police during the second anniversary commemorations of the Gen-Z protests on June 25, 2026.

This development follows a nationwide monitoring exercise by IPOA, which has revealed a mix of de-escalation tactics and concerning operational breaches by the National Police Service (NPS) in qulling the demos which led to the arrests of 355 people countrywide, with Nairobi leading with 161 arrests, and at least seven people were forcibly disappeared, with the story of Davis Lichuma, a Mathare-based activist, who was abducted, tortured, and found dumped outside Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH), making the headlines.

In a press statement released on Wednesday, July 1, 2026, IPOA detailed its preliminary findings, confirming that police deployed public order management measures across major cities. However, the Authority expressed significant concern regarding the conduct of some officers during the protests.

“Preliminary findings indicate that police deployed public order management measures, including the erection of barricades along some major routes in parts of Nairobi and Mombasa, where minimal protests were recorded. The Authority noted that the police used tear gas in some instances and acoustic devices to disperse crowds in some parts of Nairobi Central Business District (CBD),” the statement read in part.

The authority has said that its investigators have been actively recording statements from victims, specifically focusing on claimed abductions and injuries sustained by some of the victims from Nairobi CBD and the incident regarding a person with disability (PWD) in Nakuru.

“We have received and are verifying allegations of missing persons, abductions, detention, and physical assaults on persons arrested during the protests,” IPOA said.

Beyond physical evidence gathering, IPOA has taken a holistic approach to victim support. The Authority revealed that it provided psychosocial support to some of the victims who presented themselves for statement recording,” acknowledging the psychological toll of the events.

Police conduct under scrutiny

While the Authority noted that the police utilised engagement techniques to de-escalate tensions, it also flagged specific actions that violated existing court orders.

“Some officers wore balaclavas while others were dressed in plain clothes, armed and used motor vehicles with concealed registration number plates,” read the statement.

The situation remains dynamic, with IPOA confirming it is actively monitoring the evolving situation in Mathare, Huruma, and Kariobangi North. Concurrently, the authority is conducting investigations into recorded cases of alleged excess use of force by the police.

 “Investigations will be thorough and impartial, and that any persons found culpable will be held accountable in accordance with the law,” the police oversight body affirmed.

Moreover, the authority also says it has extended psychosocial support to several victims who came forward to record their accounts of what happened.