Since Inception, the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) had registered several cases of non-cooperation by the police.
The lack of a proper feedback mechanism on various matters of interest has also been an issue of concern to both the Police and IPOA.
This saw the need to have dialogue sessions between the two parties to explore the areas that needed collaboration in the interest of promoting effective and accountable policing in the country.
The Authority, led by Chairperson Mrs. Anne Makori thus initiated the sessions with the National Police Service Commanders. The sessions were held in all the 9 regions where the Authority has physical presence; Nairobi, Mombasa, Kisumu, Nakuru, Nyeri, Meru, Eldoret, Kakamega and Garissa.
More specifically, the sessions saw the need to re-affirm IPOA mandate to the members of the National Police Service, foster a working relationship and cooperation between the two entities and provide a mechanism for sustainable feedback between NPS and IPOA.
At least 335 Commanders attended and participated in the sessions across the regions.
Mrs. Makori in her remarks noted that the dialogue sessions marked an important milestone in the quest towards professionalizing the National Police Service for effective service delivery.
She noted that “IPOA is because NPS” and that the Authority had faced resistance from the NPS during its inception years due to lack of understanding of its Mandate by the police officers and the change and accountability.
She further reiterated that punishing the few errant officers who break the law was a way of deterring the would-be offenders. She re-affirmed the Authority’s mandate of oversight over the NPS is solely to professionalize the National Police Service in line with Article 244 of the Constitution.
The Authority’s various Directorates elaborated their functions; Complaints receipt and Processing, Legal aspects of superior’s responsibilities, Inspections, Research and Monitoring and Investigations directorate.
The Authority presented Complaints Receipt and Processing, and clarified that it takes up complaints reported by members of the public, police officers and on its own motion. The processing of the received complaints is guided by the principles of visibility, accessibility, objectivity, fairness, and confidentiality.
Members of NPS were also sensitized on various channels for reporting complaints including, walk-ins, toll free number-1559, by email (complaints@ipoa.go.ke) among others.
The Inspection, Research and Monitoring directorate elaborated its functions of conducting inspections of police premises and detention facilities, monitoring of police operations affecting members of the Public and making recommendation to the service.
The Directorate also shared important issues arising from its mandate including; AIE allocation, tooling and equipment, critical police registers, housing, under-staffing and gender perspective in policing, welfare of the member of NPS and community policing structures.
The Directorate further shared the challenges experienced during inspections and monitoring including; non-cooperation by some police commanders, non-issuance of Criminal Register number (C.R.) to some gazetted police stations, non-identification of police officers, lack of a standardized construction design for stations and lack of IPOA Correspondence file in Police Stations, frequent transfers of station commanders, misperception of IPOA mandate and the slow or non-implementation of IPOA recommendations by the NPS.
The Investigation and Legal directorates presented its mandate and sensitized the superior officers to notify the Authority, where death or serious injuries occur as a result of Police actions including deaths and serious injuries while in Police custody, and take necessary steps to secure evidence which may be relevant for IPOA investigations.
Enhancing Cooperation between IPOA and NPS is a crucial milestone in Policing hence restoring public trust. After the dialogue session, key recommendations were put forward including, the Authority, to develop a Police Oversight module to be embedded in the Police Training Curriculum.
IPOA representatives reiterated the Authority’s commitment in the steadfast provision of independent and impartial investigations, inspections, audits and monitoring of police operations to enhance professionalism and discipline of the National Police Service.