If his appointment is approved by Parliament, Hassan will lead IPOA at a critical time. Kenyan police face intense scrutiny both locally and internationally over allegations of extrajudicial killings, enforced disappearances, and abductions, particularly following the violent suppression of Gen Z protests in mid-2024
President William Ruto has nominated former Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) chairman Ahmed Issack Hassan as the new chairperson of the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA). Currently chair of the Kenya Industrial Property Institute (KIPI), Hassan brings over 27 years of expertise in legal practice, public service, and election oversight.
Hassan, well-known for his role as the inaugural IEBC chair from November 2011 to October 2016, left the commission under a cloud of controversy. Raila Odinga’s National Super Alliance had demanded that IEBC officials step down, alleging the commission’s bias and possible election rigging in favour of then-President Uhuru Kenyatta in the 2013 elections.
With legal qualifications from the University of Nairobi and international management training from Israel’s Galilee Institute, Hassan has also served in roles such as Commissioner for the Constitution of Kenya Review Commission and a legal consultant for the UNDP in Somalia’s constitution-making project.
If his appointment is approved by Parliament, Hassan will lead IPOA at a critical time. Kenyan police face intense scrutiny both locally and internationally over allegations of extrajudicial killings, enforced disappearances, and abductions, particularly following the violent suppression of Gen Z protests in mid-2024.
Hassan’s nomination signals Ruto’s apparent commitment to addressing these issues in the eyes of the global community. Last week, the United States pressed Kenya for accountability regarding police actions in discussions between President Ruto and U.S. Secretary of State Anthony Blinken. European diplomats and local human rights groups have similarly voiced concerns, calling for transparent investigations and condemning the alleged human rights abuses tied to recent protests against the Finance Bill.
With Kenya’s recent election to the United Nations Human Rights Council, the country is under greater pressure to uphold human rights. The international community is urging swift and transparent probes into security force abuses, and IPOA’s role under Hassan will be key in addressing these calls for justice and accountability.
