Murkomen lists key reforms to better the National Police Service

Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen on Monday unveiled a set of police reforms aimed at improving service delivery, accountability, and restoring public confidence in the National Police Service (NPS).

Addressing a press conference in Nairobi, Murkomen emphasised the need to break away from outdated colonial legacies that have long hindered effective policing in Kenya.

He acknowledged that despite past reform efforts — notably those inspired by the Krigler Report — progress has largely stalled.

“Unfortunately, despite these well-intentioned frameworks and constitutional backing, meaningful reforms have stalled,” Murkomen said, citing limited operational independence, inadequate resources, and recurring incidents of police brutality and impunity as major setbacks.

Among the headline initiatives is a government directive mandating the installation of Closed-Circuit Television (CCTV) surveillance systems in all 1,209 police stations across the country within two years.

Murkomen said the surveillance will enhance transparency and deter misconduct, with tampering of the equipment set to become a criminal offense under proposed legislation.

“The surveillance system shall be in the custody of the Officer Commanding Station (OCS), who must ensure the system is operational at all times,” Murkomen added, noting that any faults must be reported within one hour through the established chain of command.

In a further push towards modernization, the CS announced the revival and expansion of a digital reporting system under the BETA programme. This includes digitization of the traditional Occurrence Book (OB), enabling tamper-proof and trackable incident reporting. 

“This is a reform that had been initiated, and we are now committed to ensure its full implementation,” Murkomen said.

The Cabinet Secretary also outlined plans for an independent audit framework for police procedures, practices, and resource utilisation.

These audits, to be carried out in collaboration with civil society, religious leaders, and other stakeholders, will identify performance gaps and recognise exemplary service.

“To foster a culture of excellence, we will introduce awards for best-performing police officers and stations,” he said.

Additionally, continuous professional development (CPD) training will be made mandatory for all officers, starting with OCSs.

The training will focus on constitutional standards and will be guided by a standardized curriculum developed by the ministry.

Murkomen affirmed that the Ministry of Interior will work closely with the National Treasury and Parliament to secure adequate funding for the reforms.

He also highlighted efforts to build partnerships with development agencies and civil society organisations to support the initiative.