Karen Nyamu tables motion to install CCTV in police stations and cells
By Valerian Khakayi, July 17, 2025Nominated Senator Karen Nyamu has tabled a motion in the Senate urging the national government to install functional closed-circuit television (CCTV) cameras in all police stations, cells, and reporting desks across the country.
In her motion, which she read during the Senate session on Wednesday, July 16, 2025, Nyamu called on the Ministry of Interior and National Administration to ensure that all CCTV systems are actively monitored in real time, with footage securely stored and made readily accessible for use in investigations and judicial proceedings.
She emphasised that the installation of surveillance systems will promote transparency, accountability, and the protection of both law enforcement officers and members of the public.
“The national government, through the Ministry of Interior and National Administration, installs functional CCTV cameras in all police stations, police cells and police reporting desks across the country,” Nyamu’s motion reads.
“Ensure all CCTV systems are monitored in real time and that footage is securely stored and made accessible during investigations and judicial processes.”
The senator further urged the government to provide adequate resources, technical support, and training to police officers to ensure the effective operation and maintenance of the CCTV systems.
Additionally, she proposed the continued digitisation of the Occurrence Book (OB) platform as part of broader police reforms aimed at modernising service delivery.
“Provide necessary resources, technical support and training to law enforcement officers for the effective operation and maintenance of CCTV system and continue the digitisation of the occurrence book platform,” she added.
Murkomen on CCTV
This comes after the Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen announced sweeping policy reforms within the National Police Service (NPS), including a new directive mandating the installation of CCTV systems in all police stations nationwide.
In his State of the Nation address on Monday, June 16, 2025, Murkomen stated that all 1,209 police stations in Kenya will be equipped with CCTV surveillance systems within the next two years as part of a broader drive to entrench transparency in law enforcement facilities.
“In the aspirational fulfillment of constitutional governance, I have today directed the implementation of the following policy reforms in the National Police Service. On CCTV, it shall be mandatory to equip stations with CCTV to enhance transparency,” Murkomen said.
He explained that the proposed installations are designed not only to record day-to-day operations within police stations but also to provide a reliable audit trail of law enforcement actions.
“The cameras shall be under the OCS, and he will make sure they are always functioning. In case of a problem, he must report within one hour. They shall also have back-up systems,” he said.
“We shall be making a proposal to Parliament to make laws that criminalise tampering with CCTV cameras.”
Murkomen clarified that although some police stations are already equipped with CCTV systems, those installations were undertaken at the discretion of individual stations and not as part of a coordinated national government initiative.
“It is important for Kenyans to note that the current stations that have CCTVs are not enough,” he stated,