Murkomen Orders Major Reforms in Police Service Across Kenya
Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen has announced a series of urgent reforms aimed at transforming police stations nationwide. A key highlight of the changes is the mandatory installation of CCTV cameras in every police station within the next two years.
According to Murkomen, each police station must have a fully operational CCTV system capable of live monitoring. These surveillance feeds will be accessible to the Officer Commanding Station (OCS), and all recorded footage must be safely backed up.
The aim is to use these systems as a tool to enhance transparency and assist in future investigations.
The CS directed that any cases of assault, misconduct, or abuse reported within police stations must be communicated within an hour. The new CCTV installations are expected to play a crucial role in enforcing accountability and monitoring the conduct of officers.
This ambitious plan will cover all 1,209 police stations in Kenya. To support the initiative, Parliament is preparing to pass a law that will make it a criminal offense to delete or tamper with CCTV footage.
In addition, Murkomen revealed that all police stations will soon adopt fully digital Occurrence Books (OBs). This will allow reports made at stations to be tracked, audited, and verified in real time—making it harder to alter or conceal any records.
In a move to improve community relations, Murkomen also launched a new plan focused on public engagement.
Police officers will be expected to collaborate more closely with civil society organizations, religious leaders, and local community groups.
These partnerships will be evaluated regularly to ensure officers are complying with the new community policing protocols.
To further support these reforms, regular independent audits will be carried out on police operations. These reviews will help identify weaknesses, assess overall effectiveness, and highlight areas needing improvement.
Officers and stations that show excellent performance will receive public recognition and rewards for their efforts.
“Police officers must work closely with the community. These partnerships will be monitored to determine who is following the correct procedures,” Murkomen emphasized.
He also ordered the launch of continuous development training for police officers, starting with the OCSs. These commanders will undergo special courses on constitutional principles and professional conduct.
The goal is to improve discipline, promote human rights-based policing, and deliver better public service.
“I have directed that continuous training begin immediately. OCSs will receive essential constitutional and ethical training to improve their professionalism and ensure accountability within the force,” Murkomen said.
Murkomen further explained that his ministry is working with Parliament and the Treasury to secure funding for the training programs. However, he raised concerns about frequent budget cuts, stating that police training has been one of the most severely affected areas due to limited financial resources.
He also addressed the challenges of implementing Article 244 of the Constitution, which outlines the role and expectations of the National Police Service.
The article demands high levels of professionalism, strict discipline, and full respect for human rights—areas where, according to Murkomen, significant improvements are still needed.
At the same time, pressure is growing on Murkomen to ask Deputy Inspector General of Police, Eliud Lagat, to step aside amid an ongoing investigation.
The probe is linked to the controversial death of blogger Albert Ojwang, who died while in police custody. Despite the public outcry, the CS has stood firm, saying the matter must be handled through proper legal procedures.
Meanwhile, social media has erupted with growing calls for nationwide protests planned for Tuesday. Protesters are expected to demand the resignation of Lagat, citing his alleged involvement in the tragic death of the blogger. The incident has sparked outrage, with citizens urging the government to act swiftly and decisively.
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