The Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) Board undertook a week-long capacity-building mission in Paris, France, aimed at strengthening its oversight mandate through international exposure, training, and strategic partnerships.
The delegation, led by Vice Chairperson Ann Wanjiku, engaged with UNESCO, Kenyan diplomatic missions, and governance experts to deepen their knowledge of freedom of expression, journalist safety, corporate governance, and police–media relations; critical areas shaping modern civilian oversight of policing.
On Tuesday 24th September 2025, UNESCO hosted the IPOA delegation at its Paris headquarters for a landmark workshop on freedom of expression, the safety of journalists, and strategies to counter misinformation, disinformation and hate speech.
The training came at a time when these issues continue to test the resilience of democratic governance globally and in Kenya. Opening the session, Sylvie Coudray, UNESCO’s Director for Freedom of Expression, Media Development and Media and Information Literacy, praised IPOA’s pivotal role in advancing accountability and lawfulness across Sub-Saharan Africa.
Kenya’s Permanent Delegate to UNESCO, Ambassador Professor Peter Ngure, emphasized the urgency of building constructive relationships between police, the media and the public, stressing that safeguarding journalists not only protects freedoms but also reinforces the rule of law and transparency, particularly during politically sensitive periods.
The workshop drew from international frameworks including the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, and the UN Plan of Action on the Safety of Journalists.
IPOA Commissioners Kenwilliams Nyakomitah, Jackline Mwenesi and Dr Annette Mbogoh, alongside CEO Elema Halake and Dennis Oketch, examined the respective responsibilities of law enforcement and journalists, the legitimate limits to expression, and the benefits of police–media partnerships in building public trust. The session concluded with IPOA presenting its strategic plan and committing to prepare a concept paper to deepen collaboration with UNESCO on oversight, civic trust and institutional capacity.
During the training week, the delegation also paid a courtesy call on Ambassador Ngure at his offices, where he briefed them on the work of Kenya’s Permanent Mission to UNESCO. He highlighted efforts to profile Kenya globally, including the embrace of emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence, the promotion of Kenya as a leader in education, tourism and sports, and its growing reputation as a hub for conferences and workshops.
He also spoke of Kenya’s leadership in the fight against doping in sports and the Mission’s push for Kenyan institutional sponsorships of global innovation prizes. Stressing the strong ties with other African diplomatic missions, hecited ongoing joint efforts to repatriate African artefacts. VC Wanjiku thanked the Mission for its support, noting the value of the training, while the Ambassador commended IPOA for honouring its mandate and urged the Authority to continue discharging its duties with honour.
The Board Members further took part in a four-hour governance training on 25th September with a special focus on the role and impact of Board Audit Committees.
Facilitated by Ambassador Ngure, a seasoned governance trainer with extensive boardroom experience, the session examined governance principles, board responsibilities and strengthening audit oversight. The delegation reviewed financial accountability, ethics, risk management, and the roles of internal and external auditors, while also addressing challenges such as weak financial controls and cultural barriers to accountability. The training reinforced the centrality of audit committees in promoting transparency and independence, offering lessons directly applicable to IPOA’s mission of overseeing police conduct.
To open the week-long programme, the delegation paid a courtesy call on Kenya’s Ambassador to France, H.E. Betty Cherwon. VC Wanjiku briefed her on the purpose of the visit, stressing the importance of international experiential learning for improved service delivery.
She also outlined the Board’s strategic intent to operationalise IPOA’s new strategic plan within its first year to drive impactful oversight across the next five years, while seeking to influence the expansion of civilian oversight of policing across Africa. The Commissioners requested support in accessing research and training opportunities in France.
Ambassador Cherwon welcomed the initiative, highlighting lessons Kenya could draw from France’s policing environment, including AI-driven surveillance, multilateral policing for high-profile events such as the Olympics, and the complex challenge of maintaining public order in a historic city with significant cultural heritage.
Ambassador Ngure also hosted the delegation for dinner at his residence, where discussions centred on building long-term capacity for IPOA’s Board and staff. The Paris mission ultimately provided the Board with valuable insights into international standards, governance practices and diplomatic collaboration.
It strengthened the Board’s understanding of its audit and oversight responsibilities and positioned IPOA as a forward-looking institution ready to expand its influence across Africa. By engaging global partners such as UNESCO and leveraging diplomatic networks, IPOA demonstrated its commitment to embedding international best practice in its work. The lessons learnt in Paris are expected to enrich IPOA’s operations, enhance transparency, and reinforce the Authority’s role as a trusted guardian of police accountability in Kenya.