- Police officers must now report all cases of injury or death in custody directly to the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA).
- The Interior Ministry wants the National Police Service (NPS) to fully support IPOA investigations.
- The directive is part of ongoing reforms to promote human rights and transparency in law enforcement.
- The government is also working to clean up corruption in police recruitment and road operations.
- Reforms include online recruitment, digital OBs, and instant fines to block corruption loopholes.
The National Police Service has received firm instructions from the Interior Ministry to immediately alert IPOA whenever a suspect suffers serious injuries or dies in custody. The government says this is a move to raise standards in policing and ensure that human rights are not violated during arrests or detention.
Interior Ministry Demands Full Transparency
In a press statement released on Thursday, April 24, the ministry stressed that the police must cooperate fully with IPOA whenever such incidents happen. The statement linked this order to a wider plan to modernize police stations and transform them into centers of service, not fear.
“The NPS is now required to report all serious injuries and deaths in custody, and work hand-in-hand with IPOA in all investigations,” part of the statement read.
Rebuilding Trust in Law Enforcement
The ministry made it clear that restoring public confidence in police and security institutions is a top priority. It noted that while reforms are ongoing, agencies like NPS, KPS, and NYS must be supported by the Judiciary, not sabotaged.
“We are focused on improving accountability in policing and criminal justice. The Judiciary must walk with us in this,” the statement added.
Tackling Corruption Head-On
Besides the rights issue, the ministry also addressed corruption, particularly in recruitment and traffic enforcement. Officials said they were rolling out new systems that will seal corruption loopholes, including online recruitment, a digital Occurrence Book, and instant traffic fines.
“We’re about to show Kenyans that recruitment and traffic enforcement can be clean, fair, and digital. No more backdoor deals,” the statement.
