Written By Lisa Murimi
President William Ruto’s nominee for Inspector General of Police, Douglas Kanja Kirocho, has vowed to introduce body-worn cameras to the National Police Service, starting with traffic officers.
This commitment, revealed during his appearances before the National Assembly Committee on Administration and Internal Security and the Senate Standing Committee on National Security, Defence, and Foreign Relations, is seen as a crucial step towards increasing transparency and accountability in the force.
Kanja’s pledge comes in response to widespread public frustration over corruption within the traffic police, where motorists often face harassment and bribery demands.
The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) has identified corruption in traffic management as a significant contributor to road safety violations, leading to numerous fatal accidents.
The proposed body cameras aim to provide an impartial record of interactions between officers and civilians, potentially deterring corrupt behavior and offering clear evidence in misconduct cases.
Kanja, who previously served as Deputy Inspector General and commandant of the General Service Unit, also plans to address conflicts of interest among officers involved in private businesses.
With this initiative, Kanja seeks to restore public trust in the police force, complementing recent measures like banning plainclothes police during protests to enhance transparency and protect citizens’ rights.
