Prime Cabinet Secretary and Cabinet Secretary for Foreign and Diaspora Affairs Musalia Mudavadi has announced plans to equip police officers with cameras as part of a broader government effort to enhance transparency and accountability in law enforcement.

Speaking during a live interview with Tv 47 on Sunday night, July 13, 2024, Mudavadi said the move is aimed at improving how policing is conducted and ensuring officers are held accountable during operations.

“As we change the policing process and how it’s done, we want to equip police with cameras so they can also know whether you are the provocateur or not. They’ll be configured and monitored in real-time,” he stated.

Mudavadi admitted that while the pace of reform has been slow, it remains a critical and evolving process that requires deliberate planning, investment, and institutional support.

He highlighted structural reforms already underway in the National Police Service, including:

The establishment of the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) for external accountability,

The creation of the National Police Service Commission to manage personnel matters,

And separating the police budget from the Office of the President to give the service more financial autonomy.

“We used to call them police commissioners, appointed and dismissed at will. Now we have structures. The police have their own budget, and we have oversight bodies,” he explained.

On matters of human rights, Mudavadi underscored the importance of proper police recruitment, ethical training, and continuous professional development at institutions like Kiganjo Police College.

“We must train officers on how to handle human rights issues. It starts with recruitment, curriculum, and how they are equipped,” he said, stressing that true reform must be both systematic and well-funded.

His remarks come just days after the burial of Boniface Mwangi Kariuki, a 22-year-old vendor who was allegedly shot in the head by police in an unprovoked incident. His death sparked outrage and renewed calls for police accountability.

The planned introduction of body cameras is being seen as a key measure to deter police misconduct and provide clear evidence during investigations involving officers.

“Police reform costs money and demands goodwill. It cannot happen overnight,” Mudavadi concluded.

The rollout of body cameras will form part of the government's broader law enforcement reform agenda, with emphasis on transparency, professionalism, and respect for human rights.