National Police Service seek Sh20 billion to digitize operations
CS Murkomen revealed that the government is finalizing plans to introduce body cameras for police officers, a move aimed at boosting accountability and professionalism within the service.
The National Police Service (NPS) is seeking Sh20 billion from development partners to advance the digitization of its operations, including the rollout of a digital Occurrence Book (OB), modernization of records, and training of officers.
The funding request was presented during a security forum in Nairobi attended by ambassadors from various countries and other stakeholders.
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According to Inspector-General of Police Douglas Kanja, the funds will be allocated to critical areas such as network connectivity (Sh11 billion), digitization of police and citizen records (Sh4 billion), acquisition of ICT equipment (Sh3.5 billion), and software and new technologies (Sh0.93 billion).
These measures, he said, are expected to transform the police service by improving efficiency, enhancing investigations, and tackling corruption within the force.
“There is a need to build capacity and effectiveness in the service. We need to improve transparency and accountability. I welcomed the anti-corruption commission to come and look into our systems so that if there are gaps, they can advise us and we close on those gaps,” Kanja said.
“A digital Occurrence Book will allow Kenyans to file complaints from the comfort of their home. We also hope to have traffic instant fines to increase transparency and accountability,” he added.
The digital Occurrence Book is part of ongoing efforts to modernize policing, allowing citizens to report incidents remotely, receive prompt responses from officers, and eliminate the need for physical visits to police stations.
The Inspector-General said the system is expected to be operational within two months, with full implementation set for April 2025.
Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen supported the digitization push, noting that it would eliminate inefficiencies that have hampered police services for years.
“Digitization will help us to get rid of corruption and at the same time ensure that we raise revenue to implement our programs,” Murkomen said.
He also revealed that the government is finalizing plans to introduce body cameras for police officers, a move aimed at boosting accountability and professionalism within the service.
The deployment of body cameras has been a longstanding demand by civil society groups seeking to curb cases of police misconduct.
Internal Security Principal Secretary Raymond Omollo said the government is committed to a multi-sectoral approach in strengthening police service delivery.
He reiterated that integrating digital solutions will improve efficiency in handling cases, streamline operations, and enhance the overall experience for both officers and citizens.
The digitization efforts align with a seven-year reform strategy recommended by the National Task Force on Police Reforms, which seeks to instill transparency and accountability in the service.
In January, the Ministry of Interior announced that the nationwide rollout of the digital OB system and an online traffic fine payment platform would be part of broader policing modernization efforts.
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