Government Introduces New Rules for Police Officers to Improve Accountability
The Ministry of Interior has issued new orders to the National Police Service (NPS), requiring that all serious injuries or deaths that happen while a person is in police custody must be reported immediately.
The Ministry also emphasized that full cooperation must be given to the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA), which is responsible for monitoring police conduct.
In an official statement released on Thursday, April 24, the ministry explained that these new measures are meant to strengthen accountability and ensure that human rights are protected at all times.
The Ministry stressed that this move is part of ongoing reforms to make security agencies more transparent and trustworthy.
As per the law, police officers must report any case of death or serious injury that occurs while someone is in custody within six hours of the incident.
If for some reason the report is delayed, the officers are legally required to provide a written explanation detailing the reasons for the delay.
The new guidelines also instruct police officers to properly document all incidents in custody records and incident logs.
These records must include crucial information such as the time the event took place and any actions taken afterward.
This documentation will be important for follow-up investigations by relevant authorities, which may include the government pathologist or IPOA.
The Ministry of Interior stated that this directive is a key step in rebuilding the public’s trust in Kenya’s security agencies.
The goal is to make institutions like the National Police Service (NPS), the Kenya Prisons Service (KPS), and the National Youth Service (NYS) more open and answerable to the public.
“We are making strong efforts to improve openness and win back the trust of Kenyans in our law enforcement and correctional services.
We also expect the Judiciary, as a key partner in the justice system, to support these changes rather than hinder them,” read the Ministry’s statement.
In addition, the Ministry revealed that the government is still working hard to eliminate misconduct during police recruitment and on the roads.
One of the changes coming soon is the introduction of online recruitment, which will help eliminate corruption in the hiring process.
Another major change will be the replacement of the old manual Occurrence Book (OB) with a modern digital version.
This digital OB will make it easier to track police activities and reduce the risk of tampering with records.
The Ministry also plans to introduce instant traffic fines, which will help stop bribery and manipulation by traffic officers.
“These reforms are ongoing. Soon, we will showcase how recruitment and road conduct will be free from manipulation through new systems like online applications and the use of a digital Occurrence Book,” the Ministry added.
Overall, the new directives are part of a broader effort to clean up the police service, hold officers accountable for their actions, and ensure that all citizens are treated fairly and respectfully.
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