The Independent Policing Oversight Authority is a creation of the IPOA Act No.35 of 2011.
Ipoa was created to fortify the dire need for police reforms and oversight mechanisms, immediately after the promulgation of the 2010 Constitution.
Its main objectives include holding the police accountable to the public in the performance of their functions, giving effect to the provision of Article 244 of the Constitution that the police shall strive for professionalism and discipline and shall promote and practice transparency and accountability and ensuring independent oversight in the handling of complaints by the National Police Service.
At an operational level, Ipoa receives and conducts investigations into complaints made by the public and members of the NPS, inspects police premises including detention facilities, and monitors police operations affecting members of the public.
Others are audits of the investigations conducted by the Internal Affairs Unit of the National Police and reviews of the trends and patterns of police misconduct for appropriate remedy.
Ipoa also makes recommendations to the National Police Service and other state organs.
In the recent days since the transition to the current government, there have been far-reaching changes made to the various arms of government including the NPS.
As is the case with a government transition, such changes are common and usually expected to streamline operations and service delivery by the incoming government.
Given the ongoing changes, the President and the incoming Cabinet Secretary for Interior and National Administration must consider the several recommendations made by Ipoa regarding Article 244 of the Constitution on matters of professionalism and service delivery by NPS.
Ipoa has made such recommendations since its inception in 2012.
These recommendations have been the result of various activities by the authority ranging from investigations, inspections, complaints processing and more so research that generates evidence-based policy positions.
The recommendations made by Ipoa are aimed at professionalising the service and majorly fall under five categories of personnel, infrastructure and equipment, the welfare of the police, community policing and professionalism.
Ipoa further vouches for enhanced professionalism by the members of the service through recommendations on reasonable use of force, accountability by commanders in the NPS, the establishment of gender desks in police stations and adherence to arresting offenders and according them the right treatment.
Last but not least, Ipoa makes the case for community policing as an actionable strategy for securing communities and improving the relations between the police and the public.
There is an emphasis laid on establishing community policing committees in at least all wards or jurisdictions under an OCS. Further, such units are to be run in line with Sections 96-100 of the NPS Act.
These and other recommendations are contained in various Ipoa annual and bi-annual statutory reports, inspections, monitoring and research reports and policy briefs.
The incoming Cabinet Secretary should form a special team that would advise on the modalities of implementing these recommendations together with recommendations from other state and non-state actors, especially on matters that touch on policing.
Through such an approach, the input by various police reforms and policing stakeholders will have an ear and find its way into improving the operations of the NPS as envisaged by Article 244 of the Constitution.
Research and policy expert
Edited by Kiilu Damaris
