Maraga Calls for Police Independence as He Releases Reform Report Handed to Ruto in 2023

Jukwaa

📻 Breaking It Down

Maraga made the remarks on Monday as he released the long-awaited report of the Taskforce on Police Reforms, which was handed to President William Ruto on November 16, 2023 but had not been made public.

Maraga said he had been compelled to release the report after nearly three years of waiting, arguing that Kenyans have a right to access, scrutinise and debate recommendations contained in a document that was produced using public resources.

The former Chief Justice said the taskforce’s central finding was that the National Police Service must be independent and protected from political interference.

📌 What You Need to Know

“The central finding in the report is not a suggestion, it is a constitutional command: the National Police Service must be independent.”

Maraga said restoring police independence was critical to dismantling what he described as the remnants of the colonial policing system and preventing political capture of the security apparatus.

He cited Article 239(3) of the Constitution, which bars national security organs and their officers from acting in a partisan manner or furthering the interests of a political party or cause.

He also pointed to Article 244, which requires the National Police Service to uphold human rights, human dignity, integrity, professionalism and discipline, as well as Article 245, which provides for an Inspector-General who exercises independent command.

According to Maraga, the Constitution deliberately established national security organs independently under Chapter 14 to protect them from political control.

Maraga criticised amendments made through the Security Laws (Miscellaneous Amendments) Act of 2014, saying they weakened safeguards that had been introduced to make the recruitment of senior police commanders competitive and transparent.

📰 Source: Capital FM Kenya

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