The Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) is committed to strengthening Child Protection Units (CPU) and Police Gender Desks to support Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR) in Kenya. IPOA Vice Chairperson, Ms. Anne Wanjiku emphasized the Authority’s role in tackling gender-based violence and police-related abuses, as she confirmed the Authority’s commitment to ongoing investigations into Gender Based Violence (GBV) cases touching on IPOA’s mandate.

IPOA Vice Chairperson Ann Wanjiku (R) poses for a photo with FEMNET Executive Director, Memory Kapchambwa. Photo /Emma Mugaa/

Ms. Wanjiku spoke as she opened the African SRHR Charter Consolidation Forum organized by The African Women’s Development and Communications Network (FEMNET) at Pullman Hotels, Nairobi. The forum brought together 30 CSOs from across Africa to shape a unified Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR) Charter that reflects African realities and advances reproductive rights. She praised FEMNET’s efforts, advocating for African-led solutions to SRHR, saying that policing plays a major role in advancing the rights.

IPOA has been on the forefront in ensuring that Gender and Child Protection Unit desks are established and operationalized in police stations across the country to investigate child abuse as well as protect children, and address cases of gender based violence (GBV), respectively. The Authority, through its Inspections, Monitoring and Preventive Services (IMPS) Directorate conduct inspections of police premises, including detention facilities under the control of the National Police Service (NPS), in accordance with Section 6 (e) and (k) of the IPOA Act 2011. Recommendations arising from this functions are made to the NPS and the Ministry, with a view of improving detention facilities and upgrading them to meet international human rights standards.

VC Ann Wanjiku joins the FEMNET delegation for a group photo. Photo /Emma Mugaa/

The Fifth Schedule to the National Police Service Act, 2011- which requires a lock up facility to have men and women kept separately, as well as children and juveniles kept separately from adults – also guides the IPOA inspections.

“We are advocating for safe spaces for our children because they will ensure that children who commit crimes are not put together in detention facilities with the men,” she said while addressing the media. She warned police officers who could be enablers or perpetrators of abuses, that they will face the full force of the law, adding that IPOA will ensure that all such cases are investigated and appropriate legal actions are taken, giving an example of an incident in Kisumu. “It is a real injustice when we a woman is abused at the police station when she had actually gone there to seek justice,” she added.

Apart from investigating police officers involved in GBVs including assault, rape, harassment and abuse of power, IPOA monitors how the NPS handles GBV cases and evaluates the effectiveness of Gender Desks, which are meant to provide a safe space for GBV survivors to report cases. IPOA also advises the government and the NPS on policy reforms to enhance police accountability in handling GBV cases.

FEMNET Executive Director Memory Kapchambwa (L) welcoming VC Ann Wankiju to make her remarks. Photo /Emma Mugaa/