PS pledges to rebuild public trust in police

The government has admitted that the relationship between the police and the public is strained.

Interior Principal Secretary Raymond Omollo said the government is aware of the public’s concerns over police conduct, and acknowledged the need for reforms.

“We need to make the citizen appreciate who a police officer is and what their responsibilities are. There are many things that they do that are positive and there are many things without which if they didn’t do, then some of the things we take for granted wouldn’t happen. There are efforts to ensure that those relations are actually fostered so that the citizenry understand,” said Dr Omollo.

Speaking on Wednesday on Spice FM’s Situation Room, the PS admitted that past efforts to improve police-public relations have fallen short.

Concerns over abductions linked to security agencies have been mounting, with cases such as the recent reappearance of Wajir MCA Yusuf Hussein Ahmed after six months raising public anxiety.

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While the PS did not provide specific details on the case, he acknowledged that such incidents erode public trust.

“At times, it becomes very difficult being in government when everyone expects everything from you while you do not necessarily get the same kind of support or feedback,” he said.

Omollo said the Della Ward Rep would be interrogated once he recovers.

The Leader of Minority was reportedly kidnapped by armed people in Nairobi on the night of September 13 on the Enterprise Road while heading to Pangani from South C. He was on Saturday dropped off near his residence in Pangani while still blindfolded.

Omollo assured that the government had put in place mechanisms to address police excesses, citing the work of the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (Ipoa).

“Ipoa has been actively investigating cases of enforced disappearances. Of the 40 cases they handled last year, about 14 to 16 are under active investigation, 10 have been conclusively dealt with, and four or five have resulted in court action against officers,” he said.

Addressing the use of excessive force by police during protests, he defended the police, arguing that they are trained to use “reasonable force” depending on the level of threat they face. He, however, said the use of live bullets against unarmed protesters is unacceptable.

Omollo said the government is working on reforms aimed at fostering trust and improving service delivery.

“We will work closely with the Inspector General of Police to create more open forums where citizens and law enforcement officers can engage and discuss security concerns. Refresher courses and new service delivery approaches will also be introduced,” he said.

Further, the PS assured that the government is doing whatever is possible to ensure the five Mandera chiefs abducted more than a month and driven into Somalia are brought back home.

The chiefs and a girl were seized on February 3 by Al Shabaab militants at Iresuki area, some 23 kilometres from Alwak where they were to join the Deputy County Commissioner to Mandera town ahead of President William Ruto’s tour.

According to Omollo, apart from elders from both sides of the border engaging in talks, the Kenyan and Somali governments were exploring a non-confrontational approach.