Kenya Unveils New Police Reform Plan With Focus on Digital Records, Accountability, and Community Trust
NAIROBI — Kenya has launched a wide-reaching reform plan for its National Police Service, including the digitization of police records, mandatory community policing, independent audits, and professional training, in a bid to improve accountability and restore public trust in law enforcement.
The changes will take effect over the next 12 months, beginning with the full digitization of Occurrence Books (OBs) across the country’s 1,209 police stations.
The digitized system aims to make incident reporting traceable, secure, and immune to manipulation. The government says this move aligns with its Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda, which prioritizes digitization across public services.
Officials confirmed the digital platform will allow citizens and oversight bodies to track reported cases while reducing opportunities for cover-ups.
“Every police station will transition to a digital reporting system. This will ensure that all reported cases are documented and protected from tampering,” said a senior Interior Ministry source familiar with the rollout.
Alongside the technological upgrades, the government has mandated a national shift toward community policing. Each police station will now be required to adopt a formal community policing model to foster cooperation and better relations with residents.
“This integration with local communities is essential,” the official said. “It’s not just about crime prevention it’s about rebuilding trust.”
The reform package also introduces independent audits of police performance. The audits will assess use of resources, compliance with procedures, and ethical behavior. A framework is being finalized to reward officers and stations that meet high standards, while penalizing misconduct.
Awards will be issued not only for enforcement outcomes but also for strong community ties and adherence to professional ethics.
“The audit system will hold commanders directly responsible for performance in their stations,” the official explained. “We are tying promotion and reward to how officers engage with citizens, not just how many arrests they make.”
To support this change, the government has ordered the rollout of continuous professional development training for all ranks. The program will start with Officer Commanding Stations (OCSs), who must now complete annual training on constitutional policing and human rights standards. A national curriculum is being developed.
“This is the first step in restoring professionalism, discipline, and service excellence,” the source said. “We will work with Parliament and the Treasury to make sure this effort is fully funded.”
Officials warned against neglecting training during budget cuts, calling it essential to long-term institutional reform.
To strengthen the force, the upcoming police recruitment drive will include a new category of specialized officers. These recruits will bring fresh skills and modern policing knowledge into the service, with the goal of raising the overall standard of operations.
All aspects of the reform digital systems, audits, training, and community engagement will be monitored and implemented from within each police station, under the direct oversight of station commanders.
The government is also coordinating with civil society, religious groups, and development partners to maintain public participation in the process and ensure transparency at every stage.
With mounting national concern over police misconduct and growing calls for reform, officials say this plan is designed to reset the country’s policing culture.
“This is not just policy it’s about action,” said the Interior Ministry source. “Every reform we’re putting forward will have clear oversight and results the public can measure.”
