IG Kanja Found in Contempt Over June 25 Roadblocks, Faces Sentencing on September 22

NAIROBI, Kenya — Inspector General of Police Douglas Kanja has been found personally responsible for contempt of court over police roadblocks erected across Nairobi during the June 25 commemorations.

The High Court ruling places the police chief at the centre of a legal dispute over how far the police can go when restricting movement during demonstrations.

Justice Patricia Nyaundi has ordered Kanja to appear before the court on September 22, 2026, to make submissions in mitigation before the court determines the sentence.

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

The finding follows a case brought by the Katiba Institute over the erection of barricades and roadblocks during events marking the second anniversary of the June 2024 Finance Bill protests.

Court order at the centre of the dispute

The case turns on an earlier High Court order issued in July 2025.

Justice Lawrence Mugambi had directed police to give the public advance notice before putting up roadblocks or barricades that blocked access to Nairobi's Central Business District and other public roads.

The order was intended to prevent people from being caught off guard by restrictions on movement while still allowing police to take security measures where necessary.

Katiba Institute argued that the order remained in force when the June 25, 2026 commemorations took place.

The organisation subsequently asked the High Court to cite Kanja for contempt, arguing that police had erected barriers without giving the required notice.

Justice Nyaundi has now found that Kanja did not demonstrate that adequate measures had been taken to ensure compliance with the court's directions, particularly the requirement for prior public notification.

Police defended the roadblocks

The police have disputed the basis of the contempt application.

In a response filed on Kanja's behalf, Nairobi Regional Police Commander Issa Mohammed Mohamud argued that the roadblocks and security checkpoints were not part of a single centrally coordinated operation that would make the Inspector General personally responsible for every barrier.

The police also argued that the 2025 court orders did not amount to a blanket prohibition on roadblocks, security checkpoints or traffic diversions.

The argument placed the focus on the distinction between police powers to manage public safety and the obligation to comply with a specific court order.

The court, however, found that Kanja had not shown what steps he had taken to ensure that officers complied with the notice requirement.

Roadblocks disrupted movement into Nairobi

The dispute arose after police mounted barriers at several major entry points and roads around Nairobi on June 25.

Reports from the day recorded restrictions along routes including Thika Road, Mombasa Road, Waiyaki Way, Uhuru Highway and roads leading towards Parliament.

Citizen Digital reported that motorists were stopped or forced to turn back at several locations, while access to Parliament was also restricted.

The Star reported that some barriers were put in place from as early as 2am, affecting several major routes into the city centre.

For commuters, the restrictions meant longer journeys and, in some cases, being forced to abandon vehicles or walk part of the way into the city.

The measures were imposed as Kenyans prepared to mark the anniversary of the June 2024 protests, which had become a major national moment in the country's recent political history.

Security concerns versus freedom of movement

The case has raised a wider question about the balance between public security and constitutional rights during demonstrations.

Police had maintained that security measures were necessary around the planned commemorations.

Ahead of June 25, Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen said the government respected the constitutional right to peaceful assembly and that the police were prepared to provide security for demonstrators.

Human rights groups, however, had urged the National Police Service to facilitate peaceful assemblies rather than prevent access to demonstration and memorial sites.

The Police Reforms Working Group and the Law Society of Kenya said before the commemorations that peaceful assembly is protected under Article 37 of the Constitution and that police should facilitate peaceful processions while maintaining public safety.

Katiba Institute later argued that the June 25 roadblocks interfered with movement and disrupted ordinary activities, including access to work and essential services.

What happens next?

Kanja's contempt finding is not itself the sentence.

The Inspector General will return to the High Court on September 22, when he will have an opportunity to present mitigation before the judge determines the appropriate punishment.

The case therefore moves into a new phase, with the court having already determined that the earlier order was not adequately complied with.

The eventual sentence will determine the consequences for Kanja personally.

Beyond that, the ruling is likely to remain important in the continuing debate over police conduct during demonstrations — particularly where security measures affect public roads and the constitutional rights of people who are not participating in protests.

For now, the court's message is clear: police security measures must still operate within the limits set by a binding court order.

About the Author

Maureen Onyango is a journalist passionate about storytelling, life coaching and spiritual lessons. She studied at the Kenya Institute of Management and enjoys telling stories that inform, inspire and empower communities.