IG Kanja ordered to appear in court over June 25 protest roadblocks

Inspector General of Police Douglas Kanja has been found in contempt of court over the erection of roadblocks and barricades on roads during the June 25, 2026, Gen Z protests.

Justice Patricia Nyaundi on Thursday found Kanja personally responsible for the actions of police officers who barricaded roads leading into Nairobi’s Central Business District (CBD) despite a court order requiring police to give members of the public prior notice before erecting roadblocks or barricades.

The judge directed Kanja to appear before the High Court on September 22, 2026, for mitigation before the court determines the appropriate sentence for the contempt.

The proceedings followed police actions during the commemoration of the June 2024 Finance Bill protests, with petitioner Katiba Institute challenging the manner in which police restricted access to parts of Nairobi on June 25, 2026.

The court had issued a conservatory order requiring police to notify the public before putting up roadblocks or barricades in connection with the demonstrations.

However, the court found that the order was not complied with when roads leading into the CBD were blocked on June 25.

Justice Nyaundi noted that Kanja had not demonstrated what specific actions were taken to ensure compliance, particularly the requirement that members of the public be given notice before roadblocks or barricades were erected.

The judge subsequently held the Inspector General in contempt of the court order, making him personally liable for the failure to comply.

Kanja will now appear before the court for mitigation, where he will have an opportunity to make submissions before sentencing.

I hereby direct Douglas Kanja to attend court on September 22, 2026,” Justice Nyaundi directed.

The conservatory order was intended to regulate the deployment of roadblocks and barricades during the protests, including the requirement for prior communication to the public.

In a replying affidavit filed in response to a contempt application by Katiba Institute, Nairobi Regional Police Commander Issa Mohammed Mohamud had earlier argued that the roadblocks and security checkpoints mounted on June 25 did not violate existing court orders because they were not part of a centrally coordinated plan.

Mohamud, who swore the affidavit on behalf of the Inspector General of Police, said the conservatory orders issued by Justice Lawrence Mugambi on July 9, 2025, did not impose an absolute ban on police from mounting roadblocks, security checkpoints or traffic diversions.

The rights organisation, however, maintained that police acted in defiance of the orders issued by Justice Lawrence Mugambi in July 2025, which restrained them from blocking access to Nairobi’s Central Business District and other public roads without issuing prior public notice.

Katiba Institute contended that despite the orders, police mounted roadblocks at several entry points into Nairobi.

These included Roysambu, Kangemi, Ngong Road, City Mortuary Roundabout, Integrity Centre, Uhuru Highway, Moi Avenue, Parliament Road, Karen, Kitengela, Ruiru and Githurai, allegedly without informing the public in advance.

“The conduct set out above constitutes a direct and deliberate violation of the orders of this Honourable Court and warrants immediate judicial intervention,” their application states.

The organisation argued that the measures disrupted normal activity and affected people travelling for work, healthcare and other daily engagements.

Katiba Institute asked the High Court to cite the Inspector General for contempt and impose appropriate sanctions, arguing that the alleged disobedience of the court orders undermines the rule of law.