Calls grow to disband Kenya’s police service over corruption, brutality and failed reforms
Vocal Africa, a civil rights advocacy group, stated that the police force has become a symbol of impunity and should be replaced by a devolved structure governed by civilian oversight.
Human rights organisations are calling for the complete disbandment and overhaul of Kenya’s police service, citing entrenched corruption and impunity revealed in a report by the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC).
Vocal Africa, a civil rights advocacy group, stated that the police force has become a symbol of impunity and should be replaced by a devolved structure governed by civilian oversight.
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Speaking at a press conference in Nairobi on Wednesday, Vocal Africa—joined by seven other organisations—said the police system is “irredeemably broken,” following the EACC’s findings that ranked the National Police Service as the most corrupt institution in the country.
“We demand an urgent, fearless, and total disbandment and recruitment of police in Kenya. These demands are not suggestive. They are a moral and constitutional necessity,” the group said in a statement.
The coalition dismissed both ongoing and proposed police reforms, asserting that no substantial change can be achieved within the current framework.
Beyond repair
“This institution is beyond repair. No reform can serve it. It is remarkable and must be disbanded entirely, and a new people policy model with a new name and uniform created from scratch,” the groups said.
As part of their proposed reforms, the organisations want police services to be devolved to regional governments. They suggested that regional commissioners should be responsible for the recruitment, oversight, and disciplining of officers, while still conforming to national standards and remaining accountable to the public.
They also proposed raising the minimum academic requirement for police recruits to a KCSE grade of C plain, and increasing the intake of female officers to promote gender balance.
Addressing concerns over police brutality and extrajudicial killings, the coalition called for the immediate arrest and prosecution of all officers implicated in such actions.
Additionally, they recommended barring all officers currently holding the rank of inspector or higher from joining any reconstituted police force.
To ensure effective oversight, the groups underscored the need to safeguard the independence of watchdog bodies. They urged that the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) and the National Police Service Commission (NPSC) be adequately funded, empowered, and shielded from political interference.
“These institutions must remain independent, funded, and disciplined to oversee police officers without political interference,” the groups said.
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