NPS dismisses reports Nairobi Central OCS was being prepared for court appearance

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A collage of Police spokesperson Muchiri Nyaga and Central Police Station Nairobi./FILE

‎The National Police Service (NPS) has dismissed as “entirely erroneous and misleading” social media reports claiming that the Officer Commanding Station (OCS) at Nairobi’s Central Police Station was being processed for a court appearance.

‎In a statement issued Tuesday, NPS Spokesperson Muchiri Nyaga said the reports circulating online were false and urged members of the public to verify sensitive information directly from the police service before sharing it.

‎“The National Police Service wishes to respond to entirely erroneous and misleading social media reports alleging that the Officer Commanding Station (OCS) of Central Police Station, Nairobi, was being processed for a court appearance. This information is incorrect,” Nyaga said.

‎The clarification follows widespread reports and claims by legal and civil society groups suggesting that the officer, Chief Inspector Dishen Ongoya, had been arrested after reportedly authorising the release of dozens of people arrested during recent stay-away protests in Nairobi.

‎Nyaga, however, maintained that no court processing had taken place and emphasised that the police service has established internal procedures for handling matters involving its officers.

‎“The NPS, like any disciplined service, has internal mechanisms to address matters concerning its members. These mechanisms may result in either administrative or disciplinary action,” he stated.

‎He further explained that police officers cannot simply be arraigned in court without the legal threshold for prosecution being met.

‎“A court appearance does not occur arbitrarily; a specific legal threshold must be met. For the avoidance of doubt, at no time was the OCS of Central Police Station processed for a court appearance,” Nyaga added.

‎The statement appears aimed at calming growing public debate sparked by reports surrounding the handling of protesters arrested during Monday’s demonstrations and the subsequent release of some detainees.

‎Earlier, the Law Society of Kenya (LSK) had expressed concern over reports involving the OCS, saying police commanders are constitutionally allowed to exercise discretion in the processing and release of arrested persons, provided such actions comply with the law.

‎LSK President Charles Kanjama warned that punitive measures against officers lawfully exercising such discretion could undermine constitutional safeguards within the justice system.

‎The incident has since triggered wider discussions on police command structures, internal disciplinary procedures, and the balance between operational decisions and accountability during periods of public unrest.

‎NPS has now urged Kenyans to rely on official communication channels for accurate information regarding ongoing police matters.