Can police stop you and ask for your documents?
National Police Service Act · sources read 5 Oct 2026
Police may stop and detain you if they see you doing something unlawful or find you with something the law forbids, and may stop, search and detain a vehicle they reasonably suspect is being used in an offence. If you are asked for a licence, permit or pass, the law gives you 48 hours to produce it, and you cannot be arrested without a warrant for this if you give your name and address and satisfy the officer you will answer any summons.
- Deadline
- 48 hours to produce a licence, permit, certificate or pass when police ask for it.
- Where
- On the spot with the officer; complaints about police conduct to IPOA
Steps
- Ask the officer to identify themselves. An officer who stops or searches a vehicle under this power must identify themselves first and record what they did.
- If anything is taken, the officer must record the items taken.
- If you can't show a licence, permit or pass on the spot, give your name and address. The law allows 48 hours to produce it.
- If you believe an officer abused these powers, complain to the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA).
Watch out
- Not stopping when a uniformed officer signals your vehicle to stop is an offence: up to 12 months in jail, a fine of up to KSh 100,000, or both.
- For failing to stop, you can be arrested without a warrant unless you give your name and address and satisfy the officer you will answer a summons.
- An officer who abuses the power to stop and detain people commits an offence.
Who this covers
- Anyone police see doing something unlawful, or find with something the law forbids, can be stopped and detained.
Official sources (2)
- Independent Policing Oversight Authority Act, No. 35 of 2011 nationalpolice.go.ke · read 2 Oct 2026
- National Police Service Act (Cap. 84), version of 15 September 2023 new.kenyalaw.org · read 5 Oct 2026