Kenyan Police Reforms under Unwilling Contexts: Concern for Continued Undemocratic Policing and Loss of Public Confidence and Trust in the Force

Abstract

In its course of work, a democratic police force or service is one that is fairer, commits fewer violations, is held by more professional standards, gains legitimacy and improves its professional conduct, which in turn makes it more effective and earns public confidence. However, many police services across the world do not uphold integrity and professionalism in executing their mandates. The Kenyan police force has been under sharp criticism for decades owing to its incapacity to tackle crimes effectively, excessive use of force, rampant corruption, impunity as well as the general disregard for people’s rights and democratic ideals. Following the adoption of the 2010 Constitution, massive police reforms have been adopted in Kenya in the spirit of having a democratic policing. This article examines the police reform path in Kenya and critically analyses its success and challenges that could impact on the public’s confidence in the police service. It has been established that the required legal and structural changes needed for implementation success are in place. However, despite these steps, the police reforms have largely remained theoretical as the police service is characterised by a continued abuse of human rights, repeated failure to protect the citizens and demonstrable lack of accountability. Some of the factors standing on the way of democratic policing in Kenya include inadequate resources, poor coordination and cooperation of the two units of NPS, lack of political goodwill and political interference, and a poor culture of brutality and impunity where the dictates of the law are ignored. There is, therefore, the need to recommit to the course of implementing all reforms to ensure that the police service becomes effective and earns public trust