Maraga Report: Police independence lacking
Better funding and equipment alone cannot transform policing without fundamental changes to leadership, independence, professionalism, integrity and institutional accountability.
Former Chief Justice and UGM Presidential candidate David Maraga released a taskforce report on police reforms on November 16, 2023, accusing the Executive of attempting to weaken the National Police Service's (NPS) independence. The report called for a competitive hiring process for top commanders of the NPS, including the Inspector General (IG) and Deputy Inspectors-General (DIGs), which would have required the IG to undergo a fresh round of vetting.
Prior to the Security Laws (Miscellaneous Amendment) Act 2014, the IG was recruited through a rigorous, competitive process overseen by the National Police Service Commission (NPSC). However, the amendment removed the NPSC's role, giving the President full power to directly nominate IGs without competition. This change weakened the police's independence, as stipulated in the Constitution.
The taskforce recommended the immediate reinstatement of the constitutional requirements for competitive hiring of top NPS commanders. Maraga emphasized the need for transparency, openness, and adherence to constitutional values in leadership selection, stating that a professional, independent police force is crucial for public trust and effective service delivery.
Written by urgent.news from The Standard Kenya's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
