Eldoret human rights activists demand independent probe into police handling of robbery case
A major area of concern raised in the petition relates to the alleged photographing and public profiling of suspects. The activists have called for an investigation into claims concerning CI James Lenaso, including allegations that suspects were photographed and that their photographs or information were subsequently shared with bloggers or other third parties for publication on social media.
Kimutai Kirui, Executive Director of the Centre Against Torture [speaking] and human activist Benson Juma Akumu speaking during press briefing at Eldoret Media Hub.
By HubzMedia Reporter
Human rights activists in Eldoret have petitioned the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) to order an independent review of a robbery with violence case, citing alleged irregularities in the arrest and detention of suspects, handling of evidence, cash-bail payments and the conduct of police officers involved in the investigation.
The petition, dated August 10, 2026, was filed by Kimutai Kirui of the Centre Against Torture, alongside fellow human rights advocate Juma Akumu. Copies of the complaint were also addressed to the Inspector-General of Police, the Uasin Gishu County Police Commander, the County Criminal Investigations Officer, the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) and the Commission on Administrative Justice.
The complaint concerns Police File No. 831/257/2027 and OB No. 90/26/06/2026, relating to a robbery with violence case in which Boniface Kipchumba Biwott is listed as the accused. The activists are calling for the matter to be subjected to independent scrutiny, arguing that the allegations raised are serious enough to warrant examination by investigators who are separate from officers whose conduct has been questioned.
At the centre of the complaint are allegations surrounding the circumstances of the reported robbery and the subsequent arrests of several individuals. The activists want investigators to establish the movements and whereabouts of complainant Joseph Ruto at the material time and determine whether the available evidence independently connects the accused to the alleged offence.
They have specifically asked that investigators examine available mobile-phone and call-data records, M-Pesa transactions, CCTV footage, witness accounts, boda boda movements and other digital and forensic evidence in order to establish a reliable timeline of events. According to the petition, such evidence would help determine whether the accounts given by the various parties are consistent with independently verifiable information.
The activists have also raised concerns over alleged payments linked to the arrests and release of some of the individuals involved in the case. The petition refers to alleged transfers of money involving Irene Lolem and raises questions over payments reportedly made by another individual identified as Duncan before his release.
A further allegation concerns an alleged demand for Ksh200,000 involving Biwott. According to the complaint, Ksh50,000 was allegedly paid through his wife, although only Ksh30,000 was reflected on an official police cash-bail receipt. The activists want authorities to establish the circumstances surrounding the alleged payment and account for the reported Ksh20,000 difference.
The petition also alleges that Biwott was subsequently threatened with being returned to jail if the alleged Ksh200,000 was not raised, and that previous charges were allegedly reintroduced after his acquittal. The activists have called for the claims to be independently investigated and verified through documentary evidence, police records and other legally obtainable material.
A major area of concern raised in the petition relates to the alleged photographing and public profiling of suspects. The activists have called for an investigation into claims concerning CI James Lenaso, including allegations that suspects were photographed and that their photographs or information were subsequently shared with bloggers or other third parties for publication on social media.
The petition argues that, if established, such conduct could raise serious concerns regarding the privacy, dignity and presumption of innocence of persons who have not been convicted. It also questions allegations that some suspects may have been publicly described as “notorious criminals” before investigations were concluded or a court had determined their guilt.
The activists have further called for authorities to investigate allegations involving photographs of vulnerable street-connected persons allegedly circulated publicly in Eldoret. The petition does not assert that the allegations have been proven, but says they warrant independent verification because of their potential reputational, physical and social consequences.
Speaking on the matter, Juma Akumu said authorities could no longer ignore complaints emerging from members of the public and urged oversight institutions to act independently.
“The cries from civilians are now too loud to be ignored. We call upon the ODPP and IPOA to urgently act and independently investigate the serious allegations surrounding CI James Lenaso, OCS Eldoret Central Police Station,” Akumu said.
He called for the officer’s removal from the station or reassignment pending investigations, arguing that such a move would help safeguard the integrity of the process and protect civilians from any potential abuse of power.
Akumu stressed that the activists were not seeking to interfere with the criminal justice process or secure preferential treatment for any individual.
“We are not calling for conviction without due process; we are demanding accountability, transparency and justice,” he said.
He added that the authority attached to a police uniform must be exercised within the law and with respect for citizens’ rights.
“A police uniform is a symbol of public trust—it can never be used as a shield to oppress, intimidate or violate the rights of civilians,” Akumu said.
In the petition, Kirui and his colleagues also request that any statements attributed to Biwott be examined to establish whether they were obtained lawfully, voluntarily and without coercion or intimidation. They further want investigators to establish whether mobile phones or other relevant devices were recovered from Biwott and, if so, whether they were properly preserved and subjected to forensic examination.
The activists have asked the DCI to take over the investigation and conduct an independent review separate from officers whose conduct is itself the subject of the complaint. They argue that an independent investigation would help establish the facts and ensure that any decision to prosecute or discontinue the matter is based on objective evidence.
In their concluding remarks, the activists say their intervention is not intended to obstruct a legitimate investigation or prosecution. Instead, they maintain that the complainant is entitled to justice while the constitutional and legal rights of suspects must equally be protected.
“Our concern is that Mr Joseph Ruto should obtain justice without the rights of other persons being compromised, and that the truth of the allegations be established through objective evidence rather than assumption, intimidation or extrajudicial methods,” the petition states.
The complaint has been submitted to the relevant authorities for consideration. The allegations contained in the petition remain allegations and have not been independently established. The officers and other individuals named in the complaint are entitled to respond, and any determination of criminal or administrative liability should follow due process and an independent investigation.
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