Interior Cabinet Secretary Prof. Kithure Kindiki has taken a significant step towards reforming Kenya’s National Police Service (NPS) and National Youth Service (NYS) by appointing a 13-member technical committee to review and develop policy reforms. This move follows the government’s endorsement of recommendations by the task force led by former Chief Justice David Maraga, which aimed at improving the operations within the NPS, NYS, and Kenya Prisons Service.
The appointed committee, which includes seven joint secretaries, is tasked with reviewing the current state of the NPS and NYS, drafting policy reforms, and providing legal advice. Kepha Onyiso, a State Counsel in the Attorney General’s office, will chair the committee, with Musita Anyangu serving as the Deputy Chairperson. The technical advisory role will be filled by Charles Otieno, ensuring that the committee’s decisions are informed by expert legal insights.
The committee is not only expected to analyse the policy reforms suggested in the Report of the National Taskforce on Improvement of the Terms and Conditions of Service but also to draw insights from other relevant reports to ensure comprehensive reform recommendations. The task force led by David Maraga had identified critical areas needing reform within the NPS, NYS, and Kenya Prisons Service, setting a foundation for the newly formed committee’s work.
Five officials from the Attorney General’s office have been included in the committee, highlighting the legal emphasis of the reform process. These members are Marion Muriithi, Seth Masese, Seko Brenda, Olivia Simiyu, and Buhere Jay Sikuku. Their roles will involve rigorous analysis of existing policies and drafting new legislative proposals aimed at overhauling the police and youth services.
Additionally, the committee comprises experts from various government departments and agencies, ensuring a broad spectrum of expertise and perspectives. James Nombi and Susan Kamau from the Kenya Law Reform Commission, Maurice Okoth, and Rogers Marindi and Dickson Magotsi from the Internal Security department are expected to bring valuable insights into the legal and operational facets of the reforms.
To facilitate the committee’s work, seven joint secretaries have been appointed, each representing different agencies involved in security and law enforcement. These include Peter Karanjah from Internal Security, Charles Ismael Otieno from NPS, Judith Chebet from the National Police Service Commission (NPSC), Festus Kinoti from the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA), William Kailo from the Government Chemist, Nicolas Makokha from NYS, and Humphrey Young from the State Department for Correctional Services. Their role will be pivotal in ensuring smooth coordination between the committee and the respective agencies, as well as in implementing the committee’s recommendations.
The committee has been mandated to perform five key functions: analyse policy reforms proposed by the Maraga-led task force, review and draw from other relevant reports, provide legal advice on the reforms, draft bills and policy proposals, and engage in continuous discussions to monitor the progress of their mandate. To enhance efficiency, the committee has the authority to establish sub-committees that can focus on specific areas of the reforms.
The committee has been given a nine-month timeframe to complete its work and submit its findings and recommendations to the Interior Cabinet Secretary. However, Prof. Kindiki has the discretion to extend the duration if necessary to ensure the completion of the reforms.
Meanwhile, the Committee’s Secretariat will play a crucial role in coordinating the activities of the committee. It will facilitate consultations between the committee and their respective agencies, develop and implement the committee’s action plans, and prepare detailed reports on the progress and outcomes of the reform process.
The appointment of this technical committee underscores the government’s commitment to reforming the NPS and NYS, aiming to enhance their efficiency, accountability, and service delivery. With this comprehensive approach, the reforms are expected to address long-standing challenges and set the foundation for a more robust security framework in Kenya.
