Murkomen announces 5 new reforms in the police sector
In the wake of the brutal murder of blogger and teacher Albert Omondi, Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen has, on Monday, June 16, 2025, announced a raft of reforms aimed at transforming the National Police Service (NPS) and restoring public confidence in law enforcement.
Speaking from Harambee House during a national address on the state of security in the country, Murkomen said the government is committed to ensuring justice and accountability in the wake of growing concerns over police conduct. He outlined several key interventions to address systemic issues within the police service.
The reforms
Among the measures announced is the mandatory installation of CCTV surveillance systems in all 1,209 police stations across the country. The Interior CS stated that each station must have a fully functional system, complete with external backup, within the next two years.
The Officer Commanding Station (OCS) will be the custodian of the footage, and any malfunction must be reported within one hour. He urged Parliament to pass legislation that criminalises tampering with CCTV equipment, citing the need to protect transparency and deter abuse.
“All police stations must be equipped with CCTV surveillance with a backup system within two years to enhance transparency and accountability. Additionally, we propose that Parliament enact laws that criminalise tampering with the cameras,” Murkomen said.
Murkomen also announced the full digitisation of Occurrence Books (OBs) across all police stations within the next year. This initiative, aligned with the government’s digital transformation agenda, is expected to enhance the traceability of reported incidents and prevent tampering with official records.
“Over the next year, in line with the Bottom Up Economic Transformation Agenda Program of Digitisation, all Occurrence Books (OBs) will be digitised to ensure all reported incidents can be traced and tamper-proof,” he added
As part of efforts to improve public relations and enhance community safety, every police station will now be required to adopt and implement community policing models. These models aim to bridge the gap between law enforcement and local residents by encouraging collaboration and trust-building.
The reforms further introduce regular audits and performance evaluations across the police service. These assessments will be conducted in partnership with civil society organisations, religious leaders, and other stakeholders, with the goal of identifying gaps, rewarding excellence, and promoting integrity within the force.
To boost professionalism, the government is also implementing a continuous training and development program for all police officers. Training will begin with Officers Commanding Stations (OCSs), who will be required to undergo annual refresher courses aligned with constitutional standards and service expectations.
“I have directed the establishment of Continuous Professional Development Training on all officers, beginning with the OCSs, who shall be required to undertake minimum training annually on set constitutional standards of the national police service as shall be developed in the curriculum,” he said
In addition, the Cabinet Secretary highlighted proposed legislative changes through the IPOA Amendment Bill, which is expected to strengthen the mandate of the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA). The amendments are intended to provide a stronger legal framework for holding officers accountable and promoting justice for victims of police misconduct.
Purpose of the reforms
The Interior Ministry maintains that these reforms are designed to build a disciplined, efficient, and trusted police service that reflects the values of public service and constitutional responsibility.
