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These laws provide an overall framework that could lead to the reform and transformation of the
criminal justice system. The creation of the Independent Policing Oversight Authority, for example,
will provide much needed accountability and monitoring functions over the Police Service through
civilian oversight. 22 The laws will also affect the management of the Police Service, through the
introduction of a single police command structure headed by an independent Inspector-General
of Police, who will be appointed under the advice of the Police Service Commission as well as the
transformation of the police, from a ‘force’ into a ‘service’. 23
In addition to the bills passed by Parliament, a vetting process for senior police officers commenced
in June 2011 in line with the recommendations of the Ransley Report. A panel drawn from the
Public Service Commission, Police Reform Implementation Committee, the Kenya Anti-Corruption
Commission, National Security Intelligence Service, Administration Police, Kenya Police and the
University of Nairobi began to interrogate the officers of the rank of superintendent and above. The
process was, however, faulted for lacking transparency and clear criteria for determining suitability
of the officers to continue serving in the police force or their fate if found to be unsuitable. 24 In
July 2011 it was suspended altogether due to the lack of legislation to guide it 25 and the delay in
setting up of the body tasked to undertake the vetting, the National Police Service Commission.
Since then, there have been disagreements between the two Principals as to the persons who
should be nominated to form part of the Commission as well as complaints from sections of the
public on the same issue. 26
22 Sections 6 and 7, Independent Policing Oversight Authority Act, The functions and powers of the Authority allow it
to investigate and act on complaints received from members of the public.
23 Irene Ndungu, “Police Reforms in Kenya Crucial to Restore Public Confidence”, Institute for Security Studies, Pretoria,
South Africa, October 2011.
24 International Centre for Transitional Justice, “One Year Since Promulgation: Assessing the Reform Process in the new
Constitutional Dispensation”, The Kenya Transitional Justice Brief, Vol. 1 No.2 (August 2011)
25 Cyrus Ombati, “Ongoing police vetting suspended indefinitely”, http://www.standardmedia.co.ke/InsidePage.
phpid=2000038628&cid=4, (July 2011)
26 Caroline Wafula, “Groups demands fresh vetting of police service team,” Daily Nation 25 April 2012.
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