At least half of Kenyans have reported experiencing some form of police harassment, according to a new report by International Justice Mission (IJM) Kenya.
The findings highlight instances of misconduct among law enforcement officers, with corruption or extortion (55.8 per cent) and harassment (54.7 per cent) emerging as the most commonly reported concerns.
The report, based on survey data collected across nine counties, presents a detailed picture of interactions between the public and police.
Respondents also reported incidents of police inaction or negligence (15.5 per cent), wrongful detention (15.1 per cent), and physical assault causing non-serious injuries (13.9 per cent).
The use of obscene or insulting language was cited by 12.7 per cent of respondents.
Other forms of misconduct under the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) framework were reported less frequently.
These include threats to life (6.1 per cent), physical assault causing serious injury (3.8 per cent), destruction of property (3.2 per cent), malicious prosecution (3.1 per cent), and issues of a personal nature, such as civil disputes and debts (2.6 per cent).
Survey participants also noted concerns, including refusal to refund cash bail, sexual offences, handling matters beyond official mandates, detention of exhibits or property, and unlawful discharge of firearms.
Administrative issues such as complaints over transfers, promotions, and dismissals were also cited, alongside reports of enforced disappearances and contempt of court orders.
IJM Kenya said it classified reported cases of police misconduct into low, medium, and high severity categories to support readability, intervention planning, and future monitoring.
The classification considered the nature and gravity of harm, including impacts on life, liberty, bodily integrity, and dignity, as well as the penalties outlined under the Penal Code and related laws, including the Firearms Act and Anti-Corruption Act.
The report shows that the most commonly reported forms of misconduct fall under medium severity (85.2 per cent), followed by low severity (31.3 per cent), and high severity (27.7 per cent).
IJM Kenya’s findings underscore the systemic nature of police misconduct and point to the urgent need for reform in the security sector.
The report raises questions about accountability, public trust, and the effectiveness of existing oversight mechanisms designed to protect citizens.
