A Parliamentary Committee has endorsed a proposal by the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (Ipoa) to amend the law so that it gains budgetary autonomy and allows its officers to carry firearms, as the authority prepares to recruit more than 300 investigators.

In its report tabled on August 5, the National Assembly Committee on Administration and Internal Security committee said the changes would strengthen Ipoa’s ability to carry out its mandate of holding police officers accountable and ensuring discipline within the service.

During the current financial year, Ipoa requested Sh2.2 billion to run its operations but Treasury allocated Sh1.3 billion, which represents 59 percent of the request.

Treasury further directed the authority to provide a detailed breakdown of its proposals, including structure and cost implications, before any additional funding could be considered.

To address this, the committee recommended that Ipoa prepare a draft bill to amend the Ipoa Act, particularly Section 34(3), to ensure the authority enjoys financial independence without needing budget approval from the Cabinet Secretary during the budget-making process.

“In regards to amendments to the Ipoa Act, Ipoa should present to the Committee on Administration and Internal Security a draft Bill with the proposed amendments to Section 34(3) of the Ipoa Act to ensure Ipoa’s budgetary autonomy without the budget approval requirement by the Cabinet Secretary in the budget making process in addition to other proposed amendments related to the operations of Ipoa,” the report said.

The committee observed that budget autonomy would allow Ipoa to strengthen its operations, especially recruitment of investigators and legal officers to enhance capacity and quality assurance.

“Ipoa needs to increase staffing requirements through prioritising the hiring of investigators to meet 404 approved posts and legal officers for quality assurance in compliance with the Ipoa regulations,” it stated.

Currently, Ipoa operates with only 77 investigators despite being tasked with oversight of a police service estimated at 120,000 officers.

The shortage has undermined its capacity to handle cases, even as reports of police abductions, brutality, and use of excessive force during protests continue to erode public trust in the service.

Lawmakers also argued that reliance on donor funding could compromise Ipoa’s independence, making financial autonomy necessary. They said empowering the authority with both adequate resources and the ability for its officers to carry arms would give it “more teeth” in discharging its duties.

The committee’s recommendations follow a joint training visit to South Africa by Ipoa officials and members of the committee, where they engaged with the African Policing Civilian Oversight Forum and South Africa’s Independent Police Investigative Directorate on strengthening cross-border oversight and cooperation.