Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen on Monday
unveiled a set of police reforms aimed at improving service delivery,
accountability, and restoring public confidence in the National Police Service
(NPS).
Addressing a press conference in Nairobi, Murkomen emphasised
the need to break away from outdated colonial legacies that have long hindered
effective policing in Kenya.
He acknowledged that despite past reform efforts — notably
those inspired by the Krigler Report — progress has largely stalled.
“Unfortunately, despite these well-intentioned frameworks
and constitutional backing, meaningful reforms have stalled,” Murkomen said,
citing limited operational independence, inadequate resources, and recurring incidents
of police brutality and impunity as major setbacks.
Among the headline initiatives is a government directive
mandating the installation of Closed-Circuit Television (CCTV) surveillance
systems in all 1,209 police stations across the country within two years.
Murkomen said the surveillance will enhance transparency and
deter misconduct, with tampering of the equipment set to become a criminal
offense under proposed legislation.
“The surveillance system shall be in the custody of the
Officer Commanding Station (OCS), who must ensure the system is operational at
all times,” Murkomen added, noting that any faults must be reported within one
hour through the established chain of command.
In a further push towards modernization, the CS announced
the revival and expansion of a digital reporting system under the BETA
programme. This includes digitization of the traditional Occurrence Book (OB),
enabling tamper-proof and trackable incident reporting.
“This is a reform that had been initiated, and we are now
committed to ensure its full implementation,” Murkomen said.
The Cabinet Secretary also outlined plans for an independent
audit framework for police procedures, practices, and resource utilisation.
These audits, to be carried out in collaboration with civil
society, religious leaders, and other stakeholders, will identify performance
gaps and recognise exemplary service.
“To foster a culture of excellence, we will introduce awards
for best-performing police officers and stations,” he said.
Additionally, continuous professional development (CPD)
training will be made mandatory for all officers, starting with OCSs.
The training will focus on constitutional standards and will
be guided by a standardized curriculum developed by the ministry.
Murkomen affirmed that the Ministry of Interior will work
closely with the National Treasury and Parliament to secure adequate funding
for the reforms.
He also highlighted efforts to build partnerships with
development agencies and civil society organisations to support the initiative.
