Allegations of Police Misconduct in Eldoret Stir Public Debate as IPOA Petition Filed

A formal complaint has been lodged with the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) accusing Eldoret Central Police Station’s Officer Commanding Station (OCS), Chief Inspector James Lenaso, of presiding over a pattern of alleged abuse of power, extortion, and violations of due process targeting youth and small-scale traders in Eldoret’s central business district.

The petition, submitted through the IPOA’s Eldoret regional office, outlines what complainants describe as systematic and predatory policing practices, particularly in the enforcement of cases involving lost mobile phones and M-KOPA devices. According to the dossier, technicians, electronics traders, and young people have been subjected to arbitrary arrests, unlawful searches, and the imposition of cash bail that is allegedly not refunded.

The claims have gained wider public attention following the circulation of viral videos online, purportedly showing some of the individuals involved during police operations. The footage has elicited mixed reactions on social media, with some residents linking the individuals to alleged illicit businesses, while others have criticized what they term as collective profiling. Human rights activists referenced in the petition have defended their involvement, insisting that all accused persons are entitled to be heard and to face justice through the courts, warning against what they describe as extrajudicial profiling by law enforcement.

However, according to police officers in Uasin Gishu, some of the traders named in the petition have previously been arrested in connection with handling stolen property, particularly electronic goods. The officers maintain that these past incidents form part of the basis for ongoing enforcement operations within Eldoret’s central business district.

At the center of the complaint are allegations that officers have been indiscriminately targeting individuals found with multiple mobile phones or electronic equipment, often accusing them of handling stolen property under the Penal Code and cyber-related offences under the Computer Misuse and Cybercrimes Act. The petition argues that such enforcement has effectively criminalized routine business activities within Eldoret CBD.

Traders operating in buildings such as Petrashah are said to be among the hardest hit, with reports of frequent raids, confiscation of goods without clear inventory records, and coercive demands for payments. In several documented cases, complainants allege that electronics unrelated to any reported theft were seized, while shops were disrupted or shut down entirely.

The petition further questions the legality of operations linked to M-KOPA device recoveries, noting that contractual liability lies with registered customers rather than technicians or repair shops. It accuses the police of misapplying both contractual and criminal law by redirecting enforcement efforts toward third parties without clear evidentiary links.

Several individual cases are highlighted to illustrate what is described as a broader pattern. These include business owners who claim to have been arrested without warrants, detained without sufficient evidence, or compelled to pay large sums of money under threat of prosecution. In some instances, the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) reportedly declined to approve charges due to insufficient evidence and directed that confiscated items and cash bail be returned.

Despite such interventions, complainants argue that restitution has been inconsistent, with some alleging continued harassment and threats even after court rulings in their favor. The petition also raises concerns over public parading of suspects and the use of media coverage, which it claims has replaced due legal process with what it terms as “theatre of enforcement.”

The dossier accuses the OCS of operating with impunity, allegedly shielded by senior officers, and calls for urgent intervention to restore accountability. Among the recommendations submitted to IPOA are a full investigation into the alleged misconduct, an audit of cash bail records dating back to January 2025, and disciplinary action against any officers found culpable.

The complainants warn that the current situation has had far-reaching consequences, including economic losses for small businesses, psychological distress among affected individuals, and a growing erosion of public trust in law enforcement institutions.

They have issued a notice of a planned ultimatum demanding reforms and the restoration of what they describe as lawful and rights-based policing in Eldoret.

IPOA had not publicly responded to the allegations at the time of publication.