Strained Services, Overwhelmed Officers

A comprehensive audit by the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) has exposed a severe mental health crisis within the National Police Service (NPS), revealing that counselling services for officers are critically strained and inadequate. The report, an audit of the systems, policies, and procedures of the NPS released around Thursday, November 13, 2025, highlights a dire shortage of mental health professionals available to a service grappling with increasing cases of depression, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and suicide.

The EACC's findings paint a stark picture of the resource deficit. In Kisii County, for instance, a single counsellor was found to be handling over 70 cases in one month, addressing issues ranging from trauma and stress to bipolar disorder and substance abuse. Similarly, the entirety of Isiolo County is served by only two counsellors. The report noted that in some cases, the NPS failed to provide the necessary facilitation for these counsellors to even travel and meet their clients, further hampering access to care.

This crisis is not a new revelation but the EACC audit provides fresh, official evidence of its scale. Lawmakers have previously raised alarms over the insufficiency of the eight regional counselling centres meant to serve the entire police force. Mandera West MP Adan Yusuf Haji, chairman of the National Assembly's Committee on Cohesion and Equal Opportunities, has stated that the current regional centres are not adequate to save officers from untimely deaths resulting from stress.

A Crisis with Deadly Consequences

The failure to provide adequate mental healthcare has tangible and tragic consequences, impacting not only the officers and their families but also public safety. According to 2021 statistics from the National Police Service, 65 cases of murder and 57 cases of suicide were recorded within the service between 2016 and 2020. This represents an average of 13 murders and 11 suicides per year, a rate civil society groups have noted is alarmingly high. Experts and studies consistently link the high-stress nature of police work—including routine exposure to traumatic events like violent crime, accidents, and death—to a higher risk of mental health conditions.

Dr. Reuben Osiemo, a mental health expert, explained to the Nation that this constant exposure to tragic events often leaves officers with PTSD and depression, which is compounded by long working hours. A 2022 report from the National Police Service Commission (NPSC) suggested that one in ten officers, translating to over 12,000 individuals, suffers from mental health issues. When left untreated, these conditions can impair judgment, heighten aggression, and contribute to incidents of excessive force and police brutality, eroding public trust.

Legislative and Institutional Responses

In response to the escalating crisis, both the government and the NPS have initiated several measures, though their effectiveness is now under scrutiny by the EACC's findings. In a significant legislative step, President William Ruto assented to the National Police Service Commission (Amendment) Act, 2024, in October 2025. Sponsored by Suna West MP Peter Masara, the law mandates the NPSC to establish well-equipped mental health and wellness centres for police in all 47 counties, a move aimed at decentralizing and improving access to care.

The NPS itself has launched new initiatives. On Wednesday, November 13, 2025, the service, in partnership with Africa International University, launched a new Psychosocial Support Training Program to improve mental health awareness. This follows previous efforts, including the 'Muamko Mpya' (Healing the Uniform Initiative) and the establishment of a Welfare Directorate in November 2022 by Inspector General Japhet Koome to specifically address rising mental illness cases. However, Inspector General of Police Douglas Kanja acknowledged at the recent launch that a deep-seated stigma against seeking help persists within the force, often delaying critical interventions.

The EACC report serves as a critical evaluation of these ongoing reforms, suggesting that despite new laws and programs, the foundational infrastructure for mental healthcare remains dangerously inadequate. The findings underscore the urgent need for the NPSC and the government to accelerate the implementation of the new law, ensuring that the mandated wellness centres are not only established but are also adequately staffed and funded to meet the profound needs of Kenya's police officers. The well-being of the officers and the safety of the Kenyan public depend on it.