This archive report was first published on 14 October 2019.
Published on October 14, 2019, a worrying trend has emerged in Kenya's National Police Service. Police officers suspected of involvement in crime are a source of grave concern, threatening to erode public confidence in the institution.
According to reports, nearly 50 officers have been charged with various crimes in the past five weeks. This includes a policeman suspected of being part of a gang that robbed traders of millions of shillings in Eastleigh, Nairobi.
On September 26, a soldier and three Administration Police constables were arrested over a Sh72 million ATM bank heist in the capital city. The use of government-issue guns by these crooks in uniform is particularly disturbing.
While efforts are being made to rid the service of criminals in uniform, more needs to be done. The Internal Affairs Unit and the Directorate of Criminal Investigations have stepped up efforts, and the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (Ipoa) has prosecuted 67 such cases.
Inspector-General of Police Hillary Mutyambai acknowledges that a few crooked officers are tainting the service's image, but insists that this is not a true reflection of the institution.
However, the public is right to be concerned. The National Police Service Commission has warned citizens to be on the lookout for a criminal who is armed and dangerous, but also happens to be a police officer gone rogue.
