NAIROBI, Kenya — Kenya’s Inspector General of Police Douglas Kanja Kirocho has condemned a wave of coordinated attacks targeting police stations, officers and critical infrastructure, warning that the incidents pose a serious threat to national security.
In a statement issued on Friday 17, April 2026, IG Kanja said the attacks reflect a troubling pattern of escalating lawlessness reported across multiple counties, raising concerns within the country’s security establishment.
He described police stations as the “bedrock of public safety, emergency response and first line of defence.”
“The National Police Service unequivocally condemns these criminal acts. They are not merely unlawful, they represent a grave and direct assault on national security, public safety and community stability,” Kanja said.
“To attack a police station is to attack the very security of the public it serves,” he added.
The police chief also raised alarm over what he termed a surge in politically driven violence, accusing leaders from across the political spectrum of sponsoring criminal gangs.
“We further reiterate that the alarming surge in political violence and thuggery, instigated by leaders across the political divide through the use of goons and criminal gangs, constitutes a direct threat to national security and will not be tolerated,” he warned.
Security agencies, he said, have launched intensified operations aimed at tracking down those responsible.
“To crush these threats, the NPS, in close collaboration with the public and partner security agencies, has activated comprehensive, lawful strategies.”
Kanja cautioned that those found culpable would face the full extent of the law.
“Failure to do so will result in the application of the full force of the law. No effort will be spared to hold perpetrators and their enablers accountable, regardless of their status or position in the society,” he said.
At the same time, the Inspector General directed police officers to operate strictly within constitutional limits, stressing professionalism and respect for human rights.
“I remind and order every officer to execute their mandate strictly within the law… Every action must be lawful, proportionate and professional,” he said.
According to Kanja, overall crime declined by five per cent in 2025 compared to 2024, a trend he attributed to intelligence-led and multi-agency operations targeting terrorism, organised crime, cybercrime, banditry and drug trafficking.
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Despite the reported gains, recent incidents have underscored growing tensions, particularly around political activities.
Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen recently directed the police to deploy specialised units to curb politically instigated violence.
Speaking in Nandi and Trans Nzoia counties, Murkomen said that while progress had been made in tackling banditry and terrorism, some politicians were now fuelling unrest.
A rally linked to Rigathi Gachagua was disrupted in Kikuyu after suspected gangs blocked sections of the Southern Bypass and harassed motorists, prompting police to disperse crowds using teargas.
Leaders allied to the Kenya Kwanza coalition have accused opposition figures of incitement ahead of the 2027 General Election, reflecting an increasingly charged political environment.
Kanja urged members of the public to support law enforcement efforts by reporting criminal activity and avoiding actions that could escalate tensions.
He maintained that Kenya remains secure but stressed that vigilance and cooperation are critical in sustaining stability.
