Trust in police requires reform and public engagement-IPOA

Martin Kiplimo-KNA

The Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) chair Issack Hassan has said it is time for Kenya to have an honest, nationwide conversation about policing.

He said while security remains a cornerstone of national stability, the relationship between police and the public has grown increasingly strained.

He said IPOA believes that rebuilding this relationship requires not only reforms but demands a lot of dialogue.

Speaking in Eldoret during the Second Annual Regulatory Authorities and Agencies Conference, the IPOA chairperson reiterated that there is an urgent need to bring all stakeholders including citizens, police officers, civil society, and policymakers to the table.

In reference to clashes over land in Angata Barrikoi, Narok, where at least five people were killed and several others injured during a confrontation with government officials conducting demarcations, Hassan said the Authority’s goal is not to attack the police, but to strengthen policing through accountability, transparency, and mutual understanding.

“Public confidence in law enforcement cannot be restored by command alone but be earned through openness and respect for rights,” Hassan noted.

The chair noted that his office is willing to work closely with the Inspector General of Police Douglas Kanja to ensure such incidents do not occur again in the future.

“We will be having a special board meeting to address these current concerns and others that have been raised by the public,” Hassan noted.