The National Police Service (NPS) has been instructed to immediately report any incidents involving injuries or deaths of individuals while in police custody to the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA).
In a statement on Thursday, April 24, the Ministry of Interior also directed NPS to fully cooperate with IPOA during investigations into such cases.
According to the ministry, the directive is part of broader reforms to ensure human rights are upheld in law enforcement.
“On human rights, work is underway to modernize police stations, aiming to make them models of service and accountability.
“The NPS now mandates immediate reporting of deaths or serious injuries in custody and full cooperation with the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA),” the statement read.
The ministry also noted that new measures are designed to restore public confidence in the police and other security agencies.
“We are working to improve transparency and rebuild public trust in the National Police Service (NPS), Kenya Prisons Service (KPS), and National Youth Service (NYS) — the Judiciary as our partners in the criminal justice system should support these efforts, not undermine them,” the statement continued.
In addition to addressing human rights concerns, the ministry also outlined ongoing efforts to combat corruption, particularly in recruitment and traffic enforcement.
“Efforts to curb corruption are ongoing, especially in recruitment and on our roads. Soon we will demonstrate how these processes will no longer be manipulated through online recruitment, a digital Occurrence Book (OB) and instant traffic fines,” the statement added.
