NAIROBI — In a definitive pushback against claims that civilian oversight hampers law enforcement, Dr. Ruth Joyce Kaguta, a senior director at the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA), has declared that accountability is the bedrock of effective policing, not its adversary.

Writing in the Daily Nation on Tuesday, Kaguta addressed a simmering tension within Kenya’s security sector: the belief among some officers and critics that oversight bodies slow down operations and undermine command structures. Her rebuttal was sharp and unequivocal. "Demanding accountability is not anti-policing," she wrote. "It is pro-democracy, pro-professionalism, and ultimately pro-security."

The Cost of Impunity

Kaguta’s intervention comes at a critical moment. Public trust in the National Police Service remains fragile following the widespread protests of 2024, where excessive use of force was widely documented. A recent report by Amnesty International, Unchecked Injustice, highlighted a pattern of unlawful killings and a persistent failure to prosecute officers, deepening the rift between the police and the public they serve.

Kaguta, who heads IPOA’s Complaints Management unit, emphasized that the "operational independence" guaranteed to the police by the Constitution does not equate to immunity. She argued that when families wait outside police stations for loved ones who never return, the theoretical debate about oversight ends, and a painful human reality begins.

• Diligence over speed: Kaguta noted that while justice systems are slow, victims primarily seek reassurance that their complaints are treated with weight and seriousness.
• Rising complaints: The IPOA performance report for early 2024 recorded hundreds of public complaints, ranging from assault to abuse of authority.
• Systemic delays: She acknowledged that institutional resistance often allows violations to recur, reinforcing public mistrust.

A Legal and Moral Mandate

A seasoned Advocate of the High Court with a PhD in Law and Criminology, Kaguta brought a rigorous legal perspective to the debate. She warned that the true cost of unaccountable policing is borne by ordinary citizens—the grieving parent, the injured protester, and the traumatized witness.

"They seek admission of fault, recognition, dignity, and the comfort that the law feels their loss," she stated. Her comments serve as a reminder that the 2010 Constitution settled the question of whether oversight is necessary; the challenge now is making it work effectively.

Analysts view her statement as a signal that IPOA intends to assert its mandate more aggressively in the coming year. With police reforms still a central topic of national dialogue, the Authority is positioning itself not just as a watchdog, but as a necessary partner in professionalizing the service.

"Effective policing depends on public trust," Kaguta concluded, drawing a direct line between the conduct of officers and the safety of the nation. "Policing is strengthened, not weakened, by oversight."