A coalition of civil society groups, religious leaders, business representatives, and grassroots movements in Kisumu has called on Inspector General of Police Douglas Kanja and the Ministry of Interior to take stern disciplinary action against the Kisumu East Sub-County Police Commander (SCPC), SSP Edward Wafula Masibo, over alleged gross insubordination and misconduct.
The group led by Kisumu Residents Voice Association chairman Audi Ogada, civil society activist Dennis Ouma, grassroots movement leader Pius Otieno, business community representative Alex Wadegu, religious leaders led by Pastor Erick Nyambok, and Patriotic Kenyans leader Josra Ochieng, announced on Thursday that they will hold a peaceful procession on Wednesday, January 28, 2026.
According to a formal notification issued to authorities, the march will run from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., starting at Kachok, proceeding along Nairobi Road to the Nyanza Regional Police Headquarters, and ending at Prosperity House. The demonstrators are demanding the immediate removal of SSP Masibo from office.
In the notice, the coalition accuses the SCPC of a series of serious administrative and operational failures. Among the allegations are claims that files belonging to transferred police officers frequently go missing on his alleged instructions, and that officers are required to pay KSh 1,000 before their leave forms are signed.
The group further alleges that a contracted police canteen operator at Kasagam is involved in illegal and illicit trade, while a special unit directly under the SCPC is unlawfully deployed to collect bribes within and outside Kisumu East Sub-County. The unit is also accused of escorting illegal businesses across the county.
The notice also raises concern over a reported assault case involving a police officer accused of attacking a prominent businessman and his spouse in December 2025, claiming the officer continues to work at the station, particularly at night, with the full knowledge of the SCPC.
Additionally, the coalition accuses SSP Masibo of dishonesty, discriminatory treatment of officers and members of the public, and the over-confinement of petty offenders at Kasagam Police Station, most of whom are said to come from poor backgrounds and are unable to pay bribes.
The groups further link the rising crime rate in areas such as Nyalenda and Kasagam to alleged leadership failures, saying insecurity persists at known hotspots like the Nyalenda/Kasagam flyover while officers allegedly focus on extorting money in surrounding areas, including Kajulu, Mambole,o and Ragumo.
Citing provisions of the National Police Service Act, 2011, including Sections 24, 27, 35, and 87, as well as Schedules Five and Six, the coalition emphasized that police reforms were intended to shift policing from a police-centric model to people-centred policing.
“Police should enforce the law with the people, not on the people,” the group said, demanding justice for what they described as victims of intimidation and abuse under the current command in Kisumu East.
Police authorities had not issued a response to the allegations by the time of publication.
