Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen on Friday issued sweeping new directives aimed at curbing police brutality, mandating the use of body-worn cameras and strictly limiting when officers can discharge firearms during public demonstrations.
The comprehensive Policy Directive No. 1 of 2025 represents the government’s most significant response to mounting criticism over police conduct during recent anti-government protests that have left dozens dead and sparked international condemnation.
Under the new rules, police officers may only use force and firearms “in self-defence or defence of others against the imminent threat of death or serious injury,” with the directive explicitly stating that force must never be used as “extrajudicial punishment.”
The policy mandates that the National Police Service implement body-worn cameras and other digital evidence capture tools to enhance accountability and provide objective records of police encounters. This technological shift aims to restore public trust following a series of deadly confrontations between law enforcement and protesters.
The directive comes just days after widespread protests on July 7 marked the 35th anniversary of Saba Saba Day, during which at least 10 demonstrators were killed across 17 counties, according to the UN Human Rights Office. These deaths followed earlier casualties on June 25, when at least 16 people died in nationwide rallies against police brutality and government corruption.
Recent incidents have intensified scrutiny of police conduct, including the death of blogger Albert Ojwang in police custody and the fatal shooting of street vendor Boniface Kariuki during an anti-police brutality demonstration. An officer has since been charged with Kariuki’s murder.
President William Ruto’s controversial statements, including reported calls for police to “shoot and break the legs” of those looting during protests, have drawn sharp criticism from human rights organizations and opposition leaders who consider such orders unconstitutional.
The new directive establishes “reportable force” as any application of force resulting in injury, complaint, or firearm discharge, requiring thorough investigation by the Directorate of Criminal Investigations. Officers must also receive continuous training in de-escalation tactics, defined as strategies to reduce the intensity of potentially violent situations.
UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk has repeatedly called for independent investigations into alleged human rights violations, while Amnesty International Kenya has highlighted a “failure to hold officers and their commanders accountable for two successive years of police brutality.”
The protests, initially sparked by proposed tax increases in June 2024, have evolved into a broader anti-establishment movement challenging corruption, police brutality, and economic exclusion. Human rights groups report over 80 abduction incidents in the past year, with dozens of individuals still unaccounted for.
The directive’s effectiveness will depend on adequate funding, proper maintenance of equipment, and clear guidelines for data storage and access. However, it signals a significant shift toward a more rights-based approach to policing, with technology playing a central role in ensuring accountability.
The policy also requires counseling services for officers involved in use-of-force incidents and mandates that the National Police Service Commission prioritize police ethics, mental health, and human rights training in its programs.
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