IPOA Chairman Isaac Hassan says the authority faces significant challenges, including the so-called “Blue Code” silence within the police force, which hinders investigations. “It’s difficult because police officers tend to protect one another during IPOA investigations. Sometimes, even basic information, like duty rosters, is hard to obtain. We’ve raised this issue with the Inspector General of Police and expect positive changes.”
At least 34 rogue police officers have been convicted by courts over human rights abuses and extrajudicial killings, while 230 active cases await judgment, according to the Independent Police Oversight Authority (IPOA). The IPOA’s chairman, Isaac Hassan, and CEO, Elema Halake, discussed the authority’s efforts during a meeting with staff and stakeholders in Meru recently.
Hassan emphasized IPOA’s continued commitment to providing civilian oversight of the police, ensuring they adhere to professional guidelines and uphold the rule of law. “Despite our presence in only nine counties, one of our key reforms is to decentralize offices to all 47 counties,” Hassan stated. He noted that 34 cases of police misconduct had been investigated and successfully prosecuted by the Office of the Director of Public Prosecution (ODPP), resulting in convictions.
However, the IPOA faces significant challenges, including the so-called “Blue Code” silence within the police force, which hinders investigations. “It’s difficult because police officers tend to protect one another during IPOA investigations. Sometimes, even basic information, like duty rosters, is hard to obtain. We’ve raised this issue with the Inspector General of Police and expect positive changes,” Hassan added.
He also highlighted concerns over abductions and forced disappearances that have been reported, particularly in December of the previous year. Although the Inspector General denied any police involvement in these acts, IPOA investigators found evidence suggesting the abductors were using masks, hoods, and vehicles with fake number plates, making it difficult to trace them back to the police force.
In addition, IPOA is grappling with a critical shortage of over 500 investigators and support staff. “With just 284 staff members overseeing a police force of 120,000 officers, it’s hard to cover the entire country effectively. We currently have only 77 investigators, and we need 600 to manage the workload. The burnout is real, and we are overworked,” Hassan explained. He further stressed the need for increased funding and staffing, calling on Parliament to address these gaps.
Last year’s budget saw IPOA denied funding to hire 23 additional staff, despite plans to recruit 10,000 more police officers. This, according to IPOA officials, is a setback in their ability to carry out their mandate effectively. Hassan and Halake are set to meet with the Committee on Administration of Justice and National Security to push for more resources to improve service delivery.
CEO Halake reinforced the importance of holding the police accountable, stating, “Our job is to ensure there are no extrajudicial killings and unjust arrests. Our offices are accessible, and we will continue to make the case for decentralizing our offices to the regions.”
