Transparency International condemns arrest of police OCS over release of protesters
By Kenneth Mwenda, May 19, 2026Transparency International Kenya (TI-Kenya), the Law Society of Kenya (LSK) and members of the Police Reforms Working Group have condemned the arrest of a Nairobi police commander after he released 64 protesters on bond during demonstrations over rising fuel prices.
The groups said the arrest of Nairobi Central Police Station Commander Chief Inspector Dishen Angoya raises serious concerns about police independence and the rule of law.
In a joint statement on Tuesday, May 19, 2026, they said Angoya acted within the law when he granted police bond to the suspects arrested during Monday’s nationwide protests.
“The power to grant police bond is grounded in Kenya’s legal and constitutional framework. Criminalising the exercise of this discretion undermines the rule of law,” the statement read.
They warned that punishing officers for using lawful discretion could affect decision-making within the police service.
“It chills professional judgment within the police service and signals unlawful interference in operational independence,” the groups said.
Reports indicate that Angoya was arrested after releasing 64 individuals detained during protests linked to fuel price hikes and the cost of living. He was later transferred to Lang’ata Police Station as investigations continued.
Officer hospitalised amid arrest
Human rights activist Boniface Mwangi earlier said the officer later developed health complications while in custody and was taken to hospital before a planned court appearance.
“We are at Lang’ata Hospital, where OCS Dishon Angoya has been admitted. He is facing prosecution for releasing Kenyans who were wrongly arrested for exercising their rights,” Mwangi said in a statement on X.
The statement by TI-Kenya, LSK and other rights groups also raised concern over claims that the arrest was ordered from higher levels of command.
“Reports that the arrest was carried out on ‘orders from above’ heighten concerns about politicised policing and command abuse,” they said.
LSK President Charles Kanjama said the organisation had received reports of the arrest and had deployed lawyers to follow up on the matter. He defended the legal authority of an Officer Commanding Station to make decisions on arrest and release.
“An OCS is constitutionally and legally entitled to exercise discretion in the processing and release of arrested persons, subject to the law and the rights guaranteed under Article 49 of the Constitution,” Kanjama said.
He warned that disciplining officers for lawful decisions could undermine constitutional policing and create fear within the service.
The Law Society of Kenya also called for respect for due process and urged authorities to avoid intimidation of officers carrying out their duties within the law.
The arrest comes amid nationwide protests and a transport shutdown triggered by anger over fuel price increases. Hundreds of people were arrested during the demonstrations, which disrupted business, transport and daily movement in several towns.
The planned disruption linked to the fuel protests has been postponed for one week after the government and transport operators agreed to continue negotiations while services resume across the country.