PS Omollo speaks on police reforms, ministry's hits and misses

When Dr Raymond Omollo walked into his fourth floor office at Harambee House on his first day as Interior ministry Principal Secretary, he knew the challenges ahead were immense.

A Doctor of Philosophy in Applied Statistics, Omollo was stepping into an unfamiliar territory, having been plucked from his role as Managing Director at  Lake Basin Development Authority.

His new appointment threw him at the helm of the State Department for Internal Security and National Administration at the Ministry of Interior. This  department oversees the police and National Government Administrative Officers (NGAOs).

One of Omollo’s daunting tasks is restoring the strained relationship between the Police and the public.

Historically, the police have not been viewed favourably by the public, with mistrust prevailing even when their actions are well-meaning.

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Omollo took over office at a time when the police force’s image was in tatters. Accusations of extra-judicial killings, abductions, enforced disappearances and corruption dominated public discourse.

The soft spoken Principal Secretary has since been working to restore the image of the police. 

In an interview with The Saturday Standard, the 44-year-old outlined the department’s achievements and challenges, addressing issues such as terrorism, banditry, the role of NGAOs, illicit brews and drugs, police conduct, the Haiti mission, mental health, and the threats posed by social media.

“The country’s security is very stable; Kenyans are able to go about their business uninterrupted,” said Omollo, expressing optimism about improving the police’s public image under his leadership.

He lauded the ministry’s success in combating terrorism and banditry, noting a huge reduction in terror incidents in recent months.

In the past few months, the country has not recorded serious incidences of terror related incidences.

The relative calm in parts of North Eastern and Coast regions is partly attributed to police ability to disrupt terror networks coupled with an intelligent-led policing.

“We scored big on terrorism because of our ability to bring all players on board as our multi-agency teams engaged in intelligence gathering and sharing, effectively managing to bring terror threats down,” said the PS.

On banditry, cases of cattle rustling in the North Rift, parts of Laikipia, and Samburu counties have significantly reduced largely due to heavy police presence despite logistical and financial challenges.

“This year, the North Rift experienced fewer isolated incidents compared to last year. We commend the National Police Service for a job well done in conjunction with the local communities,” said Omollo, who announced that funds would be allocated in the next budget for recruiting more officers.

Police recruitment

Over the last two years, there has been no recruitment. The pause is causing concern that it will disrupt seamless succession plans among the rank and file of police command structure.

“We’ve not recruited largely because of budgetary constraints, but in the next budget, we shall factor in recruitment,” the PS said underlining some of the challenges that hinder effective performance in the face of an expectant public.

He also praised NGAOs, especially chiefs, for their instrumental role in coordinating government programmes at the grassroots, including education, health, and agriculture.

Chiefs have been at the forefront of campaigns against illicit liquor and drugs, collaborating with National Authority for the Campaign Against Alcohol and Drug Abuse (Nacada).

“Modern-day chiefs are apolitical and professional, serving as coordinators of government programmes. They’ve been critical in reducing the prevalence of illicit brews,” noted Omollo.

The reforms agenda is on course. There were about 270 recommendations by the David Maraga-led task force.

President Ruto in December 2022 formed a Taskforce on Police Reforms, that was led by retired Chief Justice.

The taskforce in its report handed over to the President in November 2023 recommended far-reaching reforms to the National Police Service, the Prisons Service and the National Youth Service.

The recommendations included logistics, mobility, and equipment to be used by police, prisons, NYS to enhance their work and streamline service delivery.

According to Omollo some of the recommendations require a legislative process while others will be tackled administratively.

But the quick wins have been salary increments and developing a transfer policy that now requires officers not to stay in a particular station for more than three years.

“We have given them a salary increase of 40 per cent, and we are in the process of preparing Bills to amend some of the outdated Acts,” said Omollo upbeat that the amendments will spruce up police tainted image.

In Kenya, police have gained a reputation for being brutal even to the most vulnerable or subdued.

The fear for police has begotten the negative perception against officers who are persistently accused of being corrupt, leaking information and being insensitive. The frosty police-public relation was further damaged in the aftermath of the Gen Zs protests in June. They have been linked to extra-judicial killings, abductions and enforced disappearances.

Omollo believes even though the anti-government protests blighted police image, the ministry picked some vital lessons.

Gen Z protests

Nairobi was the hardest hit during the protests, with demonstrators storming and attempting to torch the Parliament Buildings. The protests were met with brutal force by the police, resulting in deaths.

“We all agree it was a challenging period for everyone. There may have been a few instances where police used excessive force, but the cases are being handled by the relevant arms of government. It wasn’t easy; nevertheless, it was a learning lesson going forward,” said the PS.

He added that the Independent Policing Oversight Authority and the Internal Affairs Unit (IAU) have been investigating accusations of police violations of human rights during the protests. The Kenya National Commission on Human Rights (KNCHR) documented 39 deaths that it attributed to police brutality.

Regarding the deployment of officers to Haiti, the PS said the mission has been successful despite initial setbacks.

In June, 400 officers were sent to join the Multinational Security Support (MSS) mission, a move that initially drew skepticism from Kenyans who questioned the rationale behind the deployment.

Omollo countered the negative campaign against the Kenyan troops, stating, “Regarding resignations, that’s a lie. Nobody has resigned. The reporting was meant to undermine the integrity of the officers, who have been paid; it’s simply not true.”

Alcohol and drug abuse remain persistent issues for the government, with the demand for cocaine rising.

“Cocaine use seems to be increasing, and this trend demands high-level surveillance of the outlets where these hard drugs are being dispensed,” Omollo said, shedding light on the complex drug trade.

In addition to combating counterfeit and contraband issues, the ministry is also tackling the trafficking of hard drugs.

Omollo also emphasized that mental health among officers is a major issue.

A study by the National Police Service Commission two years ago found that one in 10 officers suffers from mental health issues, translating to about 12,000 officers.

“This is a serious concern, as an armed officer with mental health challenges poses a danger to themselves and society,” he explained.

To address this, the ministry has incorporated mental health support into officers’ medical cover.

With rising social media criticism, Omollo cautioned against its potential to spread negativity.

“Social media is powerful; we must ensure it is used responsibly,” he said.