POLICE REFORMS IN KENYA

IMPLEMENT POLICE REFORMS

Kenyan police force is suffering the height of rottenness that cannot be overlooked. It has happened yet again and we are busy watching it. Two families have now been left hopeless after their breadwinners’ lives were cut short by a colleague and a junior one to be precise.  It is very evident that the whole police force needs the reforms and these are just but signs of the rot within the force.

It is not Kenya Police, not Administration Police, not Kenya Wildlife service police, not the Kenya Prison police, not the General Service Unit, but name it, it has happened almost in each and every unit of the police force. Lives lost brutally in the hands of colleagues who in one way or another were stressed because of the poor work conditions.

In 2003, Nairobi’s Spring Valley OCS was shot dead by another officer after an argument on job-related matters. The accused officer is still facing murder charges. In February 2008, police constable Andrew Moache killed his colleague Eunice Chepkwony and the then Ainamoi MP David Too in a suspected love triangle. Last year in November an AP attached to Mbeere North District killed 10 people including two of his colleagues. In January this year, an AP shot dead his wife and compatriot in Muhoroni District and then killed himself with the same gun. In February, it was a General Service Unit officer who shot dead his boss an inspector, 14 times after picking up a quarrel with him in Mombasa.

All these to count just but a few are clear indications that something needs to be done. Furthermore, they point out clearly that senior police officers have become vulnerable in the hands of their juniors and can never be sure on when they are going to lose their lives.

 A critical look at the root causes of these massive and very alarming killings especially now targeting their seniors is a clear indication of how frustrated the officers are. At one point, it is about money, the other time relationship and another about the code of conduct expected at work. It is true that our police officers have been for a long time not well taken care of and their living standards and their pay have been matters of concern.

The only solution to this problem lies in the police reforms pending implementation thanks to the New Constitution of Kenya.

The Police Reforms report presented to President Mwai Kibaki and Prime Minister Raila Odinga on 3^rd of November 2009, by the taskforce chairperson Rtd. Judge Phillip Ransley, highlighted among other issues Establishment of a Police Service Commission which would be responsible for transfers, recruitment and promotions of police officers, establishment of a clear code of ethics to be subscribed to by all police officers, establishment of a Pay and Benefits Review Commission to look into the welfare of the police and improved working conditions for police officers in terms of allowances such as medical, insurance and housing as part of changing the policing culture and building greater confidence for the law enforcers.

Therefore, the implementation of the Police Reforms is the only source of solution for now and should be sped up before we can see a major blow in the police unit.