Meru: The Independent Police Oversight Authority (IPOA) is seeking an increase in the budgetary allocation by Parliament through the Committee on Administration of Justice and National Security to fully implement their mandate. Speaking during a stakeholders’ forum in Meru County, the Authority’s Board Chairman, Issak Hassan, highlighted that underfunding at the Constitutional Office is significantly affecting the provision of civilian oversight over police work in the country.
According to Kenya News Agency, Hassan emphasized the need for IPOA offices in all 47 counties, noting that currently, they are only present in nine regions due to inadequate financial resources. Establishing an office in each county is part of the reforms intended to expand services with sufficient financial support. Hassan pointed out the irony that the ten-year-old authority has an approved staff establishment of 1,300 yet only has 284 staff members, with just 77 being investigators, to oversee a police force comprising at least 120,000 officers.
Hassan expressed concern over the burnout faced by their competent and professional staff due to being overworked. Nonetheless, he remained optimistic, stating the Board’s commitment to setting up a new six-year strategic plan informed by feedback from various stakeholders by the end of their term. He underscored the importance of protecting the robust and democratic constitution in law enforcement and rule of law operations, which requires a professional police force.
The Authority’s Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Elema Halake, reported that they have achieved 34 convictions and are currently handling 250 criminal cases against police officers in various courts across the country. In addition, several other administrative and disciplinary convictions have been made. In Meru alone, IPOA has received at least 1,000 complaints against the police, which are under investigation before being handed over to the Director of Public Prosecutions for further action.