Iteere warns police reforms shadowed

The road to police reforms is under threat, police commissioner Mathew Iteere has warned.

The police commissioner noted that the process aimed at revamping law enforcement is now concentrated on appointments of police chiefs, ignoring allocation of resources. (READ: Police to have new bosses in January)

The police chief was referring to the appointment of an Inspector General, and two deputies who would be in-charge of the regular and the administration police units.

“Most interested parties are unduly mesmerised with the question of who will hold which office as opposed to how better security and law enforcement will reach every crook and cranny in this country”, said Mr Iteere.

This he added can lead to the publics’ disillusionment with far reaching repercussions for the rule of law.

A team led by human rights commissioner Hassan Omar has conducted interviews to pick officials who will sit in the Police Service Commission mandated to oversee recruitment, appointments and promotions of police officers.

As part of police reforms, legislation has been formulated; the National Police Service Act, Police service Commission Act and the Independent Police Oversight Authority Act. (READ: New Bill gives civilians power over Kenya police)

Mr Iteere said that a lot had been achieved through a legal and legislative frame work but that was not enough.

He appealed to all stake holders to do more and convince institutions concerned with national resource allocation that without a complete overhaul of the resources provided to the police for motivation, training, tooling and equipment, reformed police services will remain elusive.

He was addressing senior officers at a party in South C, Nairobi on Friday.