The Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) has launched an investigation into the arrest of journalist Francis Ode during demonstrations against rising fuel prices in Nairobi on October 20, 2026.
The authority said it had planned a visit to Central Police Station in Nairobi to review police records and obtain accounts from officers who were on duty during the protests.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, October 22, IPOA said the inquiries would focus on the circumstances surrounding Ode’s arrest and detention, as well as the conduct of officers responsible for managing public order in the city.
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“These inquiries will seek to establish the circumstances of the arrest and detention and determine whether these actions of the officers involved complied with the law and established policing procedures,” the authority said.
IPOA said it began investigations on October 20, the day the demonstrations took place, and had already contacted Ode to obtain his account of the incident.
The planned visit to Central Police Station is expected to help investigators examine relevant police records and gather information from officers who were present during the demonstrations.
The authority did not, in the statement provided, disclose the outcome of its investigations or indicate whether any officers had been found culpable.
IPOA reiterated that police officers must uphold the Constitution while carrying out their duties.
It highlighted constitutional requirements for the National Police Service to maintain high standards of professionalism and discipline, promote transparency and accountability, and respect human rights and fundamental freedoms.
The authority also cited Articles 33, 34 and 35 of the Constitution, which protect freedom of expression, freedom of the media and access to information, respectively.
The provisions are relevant to the protection of media freedom and the rights of journalists working to report on public events.
The investigation will seek to establish what happened during Ode’s arrest and detention and whether the officers involved followed the law and established policing procedures.
IPOA’s planned review of records and collection of officers’ accounts form part of the inquiry into the incident.
The investigation remains ongoing, and its findings will determine whether the actions taken during the arrest complied with the applicable legal and constitutional standards.
