Members of Parliament have endorsed the use of surveillance technology to monitor police conduct, piling pressure on the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) to strengthen accountability frameworks ahead of the 2027 General Election.

The move comes after police have long been under scrutiny over alleged excessive force, delayed response in emergencies and gaps in evidence collection, especially during volatile public demonstrations.

The push emerged during a joint session between IPOA’s board and the National Assembly Departmental Committee on Administration and Internal Security held in Mombasa on Monday, where lawmakers backed tools such as body cameras and drones but warned against abuse and weak safeguards.

Committee chair Gabriel Tongoyo asked IPOA to clarify its position on adopting emerging technologies within the National Police Service, signalling Parliament’s growing interest in tech-driven oversight.

“From where you sit as IPOA, what is your position on the intended use of body cameras and drones by the police?” Tongoyo posed.

MPs broadly supported the proposal but urged caution on its application. Teso North MP Oku Kaunya said drones could improve surveillance in planned operations but may have limited value in spontaneous incidents.

“In cases of organised criminal activity, drones can be deployed effectively. But in isolated incidents, such as goon attacks, by the time you deploy a drone, the damage has already been done,” Kaunya said.

Homa Bay Town MP Peter Kaluma raised concerns about the psychological effect of constant monitoring on officers, warning it could slow response in high-risk situations.

“We must balance human rights with necessary police intervention to save the state. If officers feel constantly watched, we risk creating police lethargy,” he said.

IPOA Commissioner Annette Mudola Mbogo defended the selective use of surveillance tools, saying drones are best suited for planned public order management.

She stressed the need for a clear legal and policy framework to safeguard privacy and comply with Kenya’s Data Protection Act.

“These technologies must operate within a framework that addresses surveillance concerns and protects personal data,” she said, adding that IPOA supports body cameras, CCTV systems, and digital recording tools to strengthen evidence collection.

IPOA Director of Inspections Munene Mugambi said cost remains a major barrier, revealing that a single drone costs about Sh3 million. He said deployment would be intelligence-led and focused on high-risk scenarios.

“This is not just about identifying misconduct. It is also about recognising officers who conduct themselves professionally, based on verifiable evidence,” Mugambi said.

Lawmakers also questioned the effectiveness of current policing strategies, citing rising violence, delayed responses, and gaps in adopting modern tools.

Nakuru Woman Representative Liza Chelule urged IPOA to provide forward-looking risk assessments ahead of the 2027 polls.

“What is not clear is what you predict will happen before and after the elections. That is how we prepare and mitigate,” she said.

On accountability, Kaluma raised concerns over compensation for victims of police brutality, warning of potential fraud without strict verification mechanisms.

“We risk having people who were not injured benefiting instead of real victims. How actively is IPOA verifying claims?” he asked.

IPOA Chief Executive Officer Elema Halakhe said the authority has submitted verified data on deaths and injuries to relevant agencies, noting the process depends on consent from victims’ families.

He linked fluctuations in police conduct to political activity, warning that tensions are likely to rise as campaigns intensify.

“As we approach the campaign season, we anticipate an increase in encounters between police and the public,” Halakhe said.

He also acknowledged growing concerns over delayed police response, saying IPOA is investigating whether the trend stems from fear of accountability or weak command structures.

Saku MP Dido Rasso questioned how IPOA defines legitimate use of force in politically charged environments, warning that Kenya’s electoral history points to heightened tensions in 2027.

“What is your projection based on this history?” he asked.

IPOA officials said they are modelling election-related scenarios using past data to improve preparedness, signalling a shift toward predictive oversight in policing.

 Former Chief Justice David Maraga has criticised Presidents William Ruto and Samia Suluhu Hassan over reported remarks suggesting coordinated action targeting Gen Z in Kenya and Tanzania, describing the alleged comments as “abhorrent”.

Samia, speaking on Monday while hosting Ruto during his state visit, was quoted as saying, “Piga mikwaju, wakija kwangu napiga mikwaju,” in remarks interpreted as a call for joint efforts to “discipline” Gen Zs agitating for good governance across East Africa.

In a statement on Tuesday, Maraga said the remarks, if accurately reported, point to a disturbing approach to dissent that undermines justice and the rule of law in the region.

“As Chief Justice, I cherished the brotherly bonds within our East African Jumuiya and worked closely with my colleagues in the Tanzanian judiciary in the shared pursuit of justice and the rule of law. I am therefore deeply disturbed by the remarks attributed by President Samia during President Ruto’s address to Tanzania’s National Assembly. It is regrettable that the two presidents are reported to have discussed coordinating efforts to ‘chapa mikwajo’ the Gen Z across Kenya and Tanzania. These remarks are abhorrent,” he said.

Maraga linked the controversy to recent events in Tanzania, noting that the comments come shortly after Samia received findings from a commission probing election-related violence.

“They come barely a week after President Samia received the report of the Commission of Inquiry into killings during and after Tanzania’s October 2025 general elections, in which more than 518 people lost their lives, primarily from gunshot wounds. To date, not a single person has been held accountable,” he said.

He further reminded the public of unresolved accountability concerns over recent human rights abuses, even as he raised alarm over the broader state of civil liberties in the region. Calling for public vigilance, the former Chief Justice warned of growing authoritarian tendencies in the region.

“We must also not forget that our compatriot Boniface Mwangi and Agather Atuhaire of Uganda were tortured on Tanzanian soil. The perpetrators remain free,” Maraga said.

“Citizens of East Africa must speak up. The axis of tyranny that Presidents Samia and Ruto are constructing threatens to return our region to autocracy.”

He referenced his past solidarity with opposition figures in Tanzania, adding, “As I demonstrated through my solidarity appearance in Dar-es-Salaam on May 19, 2025, standing with opposition leader Tundu Lissu, our East African Jumuiya cannot advance while leaders suppress dissent and trample on the basic rights of our people.”

The remarks come against the backdrop of Ruto’s first state visit to Tanzania since taking office, where official discussions focused on resolving trade tensions and strengthening bilateral ties.

However, underlying tensions emerged during engagements between the two leaders. While the visit was framed around cooperation, observers noted a shift in tone during Samia’s address, particularly when she raised concerns over regional coordination.

In a brief unscripted moment, she questioned Ruto’s earlier announcement of plans to construct an oil refinery in Tanga without prior consultation.

“While we were speaking inside, I pressed Ruto and asked him: you went ahead and announced a refinery in Tanga – why was I not aware? He will explain, himself, why he made that announcement,” she said.

The refinery proposal had earlier been unveiled by Ruto at a Nairobi summit, where he outlined plans for a regional facility modelled on the Dangote refinery concept, involving multiple East African countries.

Nigerian industrialist Aliko Dangote, who attended the meeting, expressed willingness to support the project.

“My commitment today here is that if we agree with the three or four governments here about the refinery, we will lead and we’ll make sure that refinery is built within the next four or five years,” he said.

The sequence of announcing the project before securing consensus appears to have unsettled Tanzanian officials, with analysts noting that such moves are often viewed as breaches of diplomatic protocol.

Amid the unease, Ruto sought to ease tensions, switching to Swahili to clarify his position.

“Nimeambiwa ya kwamba, tangazo letu kwamba tujenge refinery pale Tanga limewakera kiasi… ningejua ningetangaza hio refinery ijengwe Mombasa,” he said.

He emphasised the economic benefits of the project, adding, “The building of a refinery is a big opportunity for business, a big opportunity for industrialisation.”