Policeman ordered to pay Sh1m from own pocket over lorry seizure

A Nairobi police officer is facing a Sh1 million damages bill after the High Court held him personally liable for detaining a businessman’s lorry for nearly five years without demonstrating lawful authority for its continued seizure.

The landmark judgment concerning personal accountability in public service comes amid a growing number of Kenyans taking individual officers in the security sector to court over alleged abuse of power, unlawful arrests, detention and other breaches of their constitutional rights.