Police misconduct, inaction dominate 2023 complaints report
The report paints a troubling picture of misconduct, abuse, and failure to act, particularly within KPS, which is the face of policing for most Kenyans.
A new report has revealed that the Kenya Police Service (KPS) continues to attract the highest number of complaints from the public, raising questions about declining trust in the country’s main policing unit.
According to data from the Internal Affairs Unit (IAU) of the National Police Service, 918 complaints were lodged against police officers last year, with 714 or 78 percent directed at KPS.
The Directorate of Criminal Investigations accounted for 155 complaints, representing 17 percent, while the Administration Police had 49, making up 5 percent.
The report paints a troubling picture of misconduct, abuse, and failure to act, particularly within KPS, which is the face of policing for most Kenyans.
It notes that the service is grappling with a public image crisis, worsened by repeated violent clashes with civilians during last year’s and this year’s protests.
Of the complaints filed, 379 involved officers failing to take appropriate action when called upon. Harassment, bribery, intimidation, and other misconduct each featured in 91 cases.
Additional grievances included obstruction of justice, unlawful detention, threats to life, physical assault, police brutality, and negligence while on duty.
The IAU highlighted that 784 complaints—or 85 percent—came from members of the public.
Police officers themselves filed 112 complaints against colleagues or superiors, while 12 were lodged by organisations and 20 anonymously.
By gender, men submitted 66 percent of the complaints and women 23 percent, with the rest either undisclosed or anonymous.
Geographical data showed Nairobi leading in reported cases at 42 percent, followed by Rift Valley (15 percent), Central (12 percent), Eastern (11 percent), and Nyanza (10 percent).
Other regions each recorded less than 10 percent of the total.
Despite the widespread anti-government protests and heightened scrutiny of police brutality during last year’s Gen Z demonstrations, the report curiously listed no complaints related to deaths caused by police action.
It recorded only one complaint on excessive force, serious injuries, and misuse of firearms—findings that appear at odds with reports by civil society groups that branded 2023 among the deadliest years in recent history.
Out of the 918 cases received, 576 were referred for further investigation or administrative action, while the rest were resolved either at IAU headquarters or regional offices. Among the escalated cases, 56 were forwarded to the Inspector General’s office for review.
The IAU report underscores the growing disconnect between the police and the citizens they are meant to serve, with misconduct and inaction forming the bulk of public grievances.
