Tensions High as Crowds Storm Hospital Demanding Release of Central OCS
NAIROBI, Kenya — Dramatic scenes unfolded at the entrance of Lang’ata Hospital on Tuesday as an angry crowd of protesters and human rights activists camped outside the facility, demanding the immediate freedom of Nairobi Central Police Station OCS, Chief Inspector Dishen Angoya.
The officer was rushed to the hospital under tight security after suffering a sudden spike in blood pressure while in police custody at Lang’ata Police Station.
The Arrest and Hospital Standoff
Chief Inspector Angoya was arrested by senior police commanders following his unprecedented decision to release 64 individuals who had been detained during intense countrywide protests.
The state accuses him of abuse of office and releasing the suspects without lawful authority.
However, news of his arrest triggered instant public outrage.
Learning that the officer was being treated at Lang’ata Hospital ahead of a planned arraignment at the Kibera Law Courts, a large crowd quickly cordoned off the medical facility.
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Chanting slogans and waving placards, the demonstrators praised Angoya as a “hero of the people” and vowed not to leave until he was unconditionally set free.
Background of the Unrest
The dramatic standoff comes on the heels of escalating nationwide protests and a major matatu (public service vehicle) strike triggered by skyrocketing fuel prices and the rising cost of living. The demonstrations heavily disrupted transport and businesses across major Kenyan towns, leading to a fierce police crackdown.
According to legal officials and activists, Chief Inspector Angoya exercised his constitutional discretion under Article 49 to release the 64 protesters, arguing they had been wrongly arrested for merely exercising their right to picket.
The Law Society of Kenya (LSK) has since condemned the intimidation of the officer, maintaining that an OCS has the legal authority to review charges and release suspects.
As the standoff at the hospital continues, police reinforcement has been deployed to prevent the crowd from breaching the facility.
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