An Assesment of the Security Sector Reforms in the National Police Service in Kenya, 2011-2016

Abstract

This study aimed at assessing the security sector reforms introduced in the National Police Service in Kenya in a bid to transform it from a police force to a police service. The specific objectives of the study were to investigate the strategies being applied for reforms in the National Police Service; to examine the impact of security sector reforms in Kenya and to investigate the challenges of security sector reforms in the National Police Service in Kenya. This study was guided by the Games Theory which is a contradiction for Multiperson Decision Theory which develops tools, methods, and language that allow a coherent analysis of the decision-making processes. A descriptive survey research design was used which entailed the use of questionnaires to collect quantitative data from junior police officers and in-depth interviews schedule to collect qualitative data from the senior police officers. The target population in the study was two hundred (200) Junior and Senior police officers working at Kasarani Police division, Central Police division and National Police Service Headquarters (Jogoo house A). Quantitative data was analyzed using descriptive statistics which included frequencies, percentages, cross tabulations and Pearson’s Chi-square with the aid of the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS). Specifically, the study revealed that the bench marking being done by the National Police Service (NPS) did not create impact due to the various challenges that the police officers were facing. The study also revealed the various ways the government was implementing police reforms which included creation of institutions like Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA), National Police Service Commission, creation of police internal affairs unit, improved welfare of the police that is housing, health insurance and better remuneration. Areas of further research included conducting studies on how police officers were engaging with the evolving institutions like the national police service commission, the independent police oversight authority and the office of the inspector general to implement the police reforms. It is also important to carry out research on the challenges facing the police within the broader context of security sector reforms in Kenya in line with the constitution.