Kenya accelerates security reforms across police, NYS, prisons

EUGENE OTIENO -MYGOV

Over half of Kenya’s ambitious security sector reforms have been implemented, the National Steering Committee chaired by Principal Secretary Dr. Raymond Omollo has reported.

The changes, affecting the National Police Service, Kenya Prisons Service, and the National Youth Service, are already 55 percent complete.

Speaking after a committee meeting in Nairobi, Dr. Omollo said the government has rolled out over 500 reform initiatives aimed at strengthening institutional capacity, modernising operations, and improving the welfare of officers.

“We are at about 55 per cent in terms of the implementation of the reforms. We have more than 500 areas of reforms,” he told reporters.

The PS disclosed that a key achievement has been the recruitment of 13,860 new officers, including 10,000 police constables and 3,860 prison officers.

Dr. Omollo said the expansion of personnel numbers at NYS is expected to enhance service delivery across the country.

The government has also implemented two phases of a salary review across the three services, with a third phase set to deliver up to a 40 percent pay rise.

The PS noted that the salary adjustments have significantly boosted morale, particularly among junior officers. “This has significantly improved the morale of the officers,” he said.

Dr Omollo said that housing remains a priority, with 5,000 units already constructed and a target of 28,000 units under the programme; the initiative is designed to improve living conditions for security personnel, a longstanding challenge in the sector.

He said that several Bills are currently under public review or awaiting parliamentary debate, including one aimed at enhancing forensic investigation standards.

“The bulk of these Bills are either at public participation stage or awaiting tabling in Parliament,” Dr. Omollo explained.

He pointed out that operational upgrades have also been rolled out, with investments in modern equipment, improved communication systems, and CCTV installations in police stations.

Commenting on traffic management and case processing being digitised to improve efficiency and public access, these measures, Dr. Omollo said, are part of a broader effort to modernise Kenya’s security infrastructure.