Government announces sweeping reforms to transform National Police Service
PS Omollo emphasised that the reforms are designed to ensure that policing aligns with public expectations and community needs.
Police officers are set to undergo a major transformation as the government rolls out sweeping reforms aimed at boosting professionalism, accountability and public trust in the National Police Service.
Interior Principal Secretary Raymond Omollo announced that a review of policing laws is underway to strengthen oversight, modernise operations and address cases of misconduct within the service.
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“We are reviewing key police laws as part of the broader police reforms, and the goal is clear: a police service that is friendly, trustworthy, and reliable,” Omollo said on Thursday.
He emphasised that the reforms are designed to ensure that policing aligns with public expectations and community needs. Omollo said cases of police misconduct should be tackled decisively on an individual basis rather than through blanket condemnation. This approach underpins the proposed Independent Policing Oversight Authority (Amendment) Bill 2025, which seeks to enhance the authority’s investigative and oversight powers.
“The public’s demands for safety and security are both pressing and valid, underscoring the need for clearer structures, defined functions, and operational protocols that enhance efficiency, accountability, and professionalism within the Police,” he said.
He added that the National Police Service (Amendment) Bill 2025 is designed to respond directly to these concerns.
The Ministry also noted that recruitment of police officers is set to move online to provide greater transparency and ensure hiring is conducted on merit. This forms part of the National Police Service Commission (Amendment) Bill 2025, which strengthens the NPSC’s human resource functions, including recruitment, promotions, and transfers.
Omollo also acknowledged long-standing challenges faced by officers and their families regarding delayed welfare and compensation.
“To change this, the National Police Service Veterans & Fallen Heroes Bill will formally recognise, register, and support police veterans and the families of the fallen,” he said.
Recent mass grave exhumations in Kilifi have exposed the urgent need for rigorous forensic protocols. The Ministry said the National Forensic Science Bill establishes a dedicated framework for DNA testing, chain-of-custody management, and accredited laboratories to assist investigators and courts in handling sensitive evidence.
The Ministry also proposed the Public Order Management Bill 2025 in response to the violent protests of 2024/25. The bill sets clearer rules on notice requirements and designated zones, aiming to reduce chaos, injuries and property destruction while promoting the responsible exercise of rights.
Meanwhile, Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen has endorsed calls for the introduction of maternity uniforms for expectant female officers and administrators.
Speaking in Busia during a Jukwaa la Usalama forum, Murkomen said it was unacceptable that women in uniform are forced to take leave or wear civilian clothes during pregnancy due to the lack of proper attire.
“I was shocked to learn that female officers, whether chiefs, assistant county commissioners, county commissioners or police officers, do not have maternity uniforms. When they become expectant, they are told to go on leave or wear civilian clothes. That is unacceptable,” Murkomen said.
He directed Inspector General of Police Douglas Kanja to urgently consider designing maternity uniforms, noting that addressing the issue is part of ensuring fairness, dignity, and gender balance in the security sector. The CS highlighted that most women join the service in their late teens or early twenties, making it natural for many to have children during their careers.
“If you say there will be no maternity dress, why? These officers are employees of the state, and motherhood is part of life. We must address this to balance issues of fairness and dignity,” he said.
Murkomen’s visit to the Western region is part of a nationwide Jukwaa la Usalama forum series aimed at assessing security, engaging leaders, security teams, NGAOs, and peace committees on strategies to enhance safety and cohesion. He is also collecting feedback from residents on service delivery, interacting with frontline security personnel, and conducting spot checks on mobile ID registration. He will visit Bungoma today, Kakamega on Friday, and Vihiga on Saturday.
The reforms collectively aim to modernise Kenya’s police service, making it more accountable, efficient and attuned to community expectations while enhancing transparency in recruitment, operations, welfare and oversight.
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