NAIROBI – Three of President William Ruto’s nominees to Kenya’s National Police Service Commission faced tough questioning in Parliament on Monday, pledging to push for deep reforms in a police service widely criticised for abuse, corruption, and lack of accountability.
The trio Prof Collette Suda, Benjamin Juma Imai, and Peris Muthoni Kimani appeared before the Administration and Internal Security Committee, where lawmakers pressed them on their qualifications, past roles, and how they plan to rebuild public trust.
“I believe I still have something to offer this country,” said Prof Suda, a former Principal Secretary for Higher Education, brushing aside suggestions that she was overqualified for the job. “It would be a waste not to use the experience I’ve gained over the years.”
Gabriel Tongoyo, the committee chair and MP for Narok West, had posed the question bluntly: “Do you think you’re overqualified for this role, given your long service in government?”
Suda, who declared a net worth of Sh175 million in property, vehicles, and savings, said her focus would be on accountability, better funding for the police, and public service that puts citizens first.
“The police interact daily with the people,” she said. “If they’re underfunded, poorly trained, or lack oversight, it’s the public that suffers.”
The hearing came amid growing criticism of Kenya’s police force, accused of repeated human rights violations, including enforced disappearances and extrajudicial killings. The recent death of blogger Albert Ojwang’ in police custody has only deepened public concern.
Benjamin Juma Imai, a retired police officer with four decades of service, said he was ready to confront those issues head-on. He pointed to recommendations in the Justice David Maraga task force report as a road map for change.
“We need to re-examine the structure of the service,” said Juma. “Accountability cannot be optional. Officers must know they will answer for their actions.”
Asked by Saku MP Diddo Rasso how he planned to deal with the legacy of police brutality, Juma was blunt: “We will rebuild trust by owning up to past failures. That includes making apologies where necessary and ensuring those who violate rights face justice.”
He also called for more support for oversight institutions like the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) and the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC). “These bodies must not just exist they must function,” he said.
Juma declared a personal net worth of Sh27 million.
The final nominee, Peris Muthoni Kimani, kept a lower profile during the session but backed the calls for change and affirmed her commitment to gender inclusion in a police service still dominated by men.
The committee pressed all three on how they plan to tackle gender imbalance in the ranks. “We must make space for women at all levels,” said Suda. “Not just for optics, but because it’s the right thing to do.”
If approved, the nominees will join the commission at a time of growing pressure on President Ruto to address longstanding failures in the police service failures that have eroded public confidence in law enforcement and justice.
The committee’s final report will determine whether the three take up their new roles. For now, they’ve made promises. What follows, say critics and citizens alike, must be action.
