The Inspector General of Police, Mr. Douglas Kanja. /FILEThe National Police Service has announced a sweeping set of internal anti-corruption mechanisms, marking a significant escalation in its campaign to combat graft and restore public confidence in policing.
The initiative comes in response to persistent reports and surveys ranking the NPS among Kenya’s most corrupt institutions, with traffic officers and other units frequently implicated in bribery scandals.
In a press release issued Friday, the Office of the Inspector General Douglas Kanja said in response, NPS has established Internal Accountability Mechanisms, including Quality Assurance Directorates and the Internal Affairs Unit (IAU), tasked with monitoring compliance and investigating allegations of misconduct.
“The Service has adopted a multipronged approach to improve efficiency in preventing and combating corruption, including swift, firm, and fair handling of misconduct complaints particularly those implicating Police officers in corrupt practices,” the IG's office stated.
To further reinforce internal oversight, the NPS said it will leverage technology and digitisation in recognition of the role of technology in enhancing transparency.
To this end, the NPS has introduced toll-free hotlines (112, 999, 911) for corruption reporting, alongside the IAU’s Anonymous Reporting System (ARIS) and the #FichuaKwaDCI tip line (0800 722 203), enabling confidential reporting of graft.
The service underscored the service’s constitutional mandate to prevent corruption and foster transparency and accountability, as stipulated under the constitution.
“The National Police Service reiterates its steadfast commitment to intensifying anti-corruption measures, striving for the highest standards of service, public trust, and accountability through professionalism and community engagement,” the statement signed by NPS spokesperson Muchiri Nyaga read.
NPS said it is also digitising public-facing processes such as fine processing and cash bail payments to reduce opportunities for bribery.
The Inspector General reminded all commanders that they will be personally accountable for upholding integrity within their ranks.
“They shall be held personally accountable at their mandated levels and bear direct responsibility for any conduct that compromises professionalism and erodes public trust,” the statement said.
Kanja highlighted the reforms during the recent launch of a joint systems review with the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC).
“We are strengthening oversight mechanisms, automating services, and leveraging technology including toll-free hotlines and anonymous reporting platforms to combat corruption effectively,” Kanja said.
The NPS’s intensified anti-graft drive is being conducted in close partnership with the EACC, which earlier this year launched a comprehensive review of police systems, policies, and procedures to identify and eliminate corruption loopholes.
EACC chairperson David Oginde described the initiative as “a proactive, preventive measure to enhance integrity within the Service,” emphasising that the review is designed to address systemic weaknesses rather than target individuals.
The commission's recent National Ethics and Corruption Survey (NECS) 2023 revealed that 20.7 per cent of all bribes paid in Kenya were directed to the police, with Kenyans paying up to Sh20,000 for services such as police abstracts and protection.
EACC attributed this to “systemic weaknesses within the NPS,” including non-compliance with integrity laws and lack of command accountability.
