IG Kanja Faces Possible Six-Month Jail Term Over Nairobi Roadblocks
Inspector General of Police Douglas Kanja is at the center of fresh legal trouble after the Katiba Institute moved to court, accusing the National Police Service (NPS) of disobeying High Court orders by erecting roadblocks across Nairobi during the June 25 Gen Z anniversary protests.
In court documents filed on Friday, June 26, the rights lobby is asking the High Court to hold Kanja personally responsible for what it describes as a deliberate violation of conservatory orders that barred police from setting up roadblocks on public roads without first giving the public sufficient notice.
According to the Katiba Institute, the actions taken by the police violated constitutional rights and undermined the rule of law.
The organization argued that while the government has a duty to maintain public order, it must also respect the rights and freedoms guaranteed under the Constitution.
“Public order and human rights are not mutually exclusive. The continued use of unconstitutional measures to suppress peaceful acts of remembrance is unacceptable in a democratic society,” the Katiba Institute said in a statement.
The application follows a major police operation carried out on Thursday morning, during which officers blocked several key roads leading into Nairobi.
Roadblocks were mounted along major highways, including Thika Road, Mombasa Road, Waiyaki Way, and roads leading to Parliament Buildings, causing severe traffic congestion across the city.
The heavy security operation left thousands of commuters stranded as police turned away both public service vehicles and private motorists at various checkpoints.
Many travelers were forced to use longer alternative routes, while others were unable to reach the Central Business District altogether due to restricted access.
The disruptions extended beyond Nairobi’s daily commuters. Several long-distance bus companies were forced to suspend or delay scheduled journeys because of uncertainty over whether they would be allowed to enter the city. Businesses also reported interruptions as customers and employees struggled to access workplaces.
Katiba Institute argues that the police operation directly violated conservatory orders previously issued by the High Court in a petition challenging similar roadblocks erected during the June 2025 anniversary demonstrations.
According to the organization, the court had expressly prohibited the Inspector General and all officers under his command from setting up barricades on public roads without first issuing timely public notice.
The lobby group maintains that the unexpected roadblocks interfered with several constitutional rights, including freedom of movement and the right to peaceful assembly.
It further claims that the restrictions prevented members of the public from accessing essential services such as hospitals, courts, businesses, and other government offices, while also delaying emergency response services.
Thursday’s security operation took place despite repeated assurances from government officials that June 25 would remain a normal working day, even as security agencies increased police deployment in anticipation of demonstrations marking the anniversary of those who lost their lives during the 2024 anti-Finance Bill protests.
The matter was further complicated by conflicting statements from senior government officials regarding the planned demonstrations. Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen confirmed that authorities had received official notification of peaceful protests.
His remarks appeared to contradict earlier statements by senior Nairobi police commanders, who had insisted that no formal notice had been submitted by protest organizers.
The High Court is now expected to determine whether Inspector General Douglas Kanja and the National Police Service deliberately ignored its earlier conservatory orders.
If the court finds the police chief guilty of contempt, he could face serious legal consequences, including a possible six-month jail sentence, in addition to any other penalties the court may consider appropriate.
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