Civil society groups in Kenya are intensifying their urgent demands for a complete structural overhaul of the National Police Service, arguing that piecemeal reforms have categorically failed to end systemic brutality.

This renewed push comes against a backdrop of deep-seated public mistrust, fueled by recurring incidents of excessive force during civilian protests and a perceived lack of institutional accountability. Activists argue that merely retraining officers is no longer sufficient; the very foundation of the policing apparatus must be fundamentally dismantled and entirely reimagined.

The Call for Dismantling

Leading the vocal charge is Naomi Barasa, the outspoken founder of the prominent advocacy group She Main Table. During a recent impassioned address, Barasa did not mince her words, directly calling for the absolute disbandment of the current police force. She argued that the existing architecture inherently protects state interests over the fundamental constitutional rights of ordinary Kenyan citizens.

"I will disband the police force and bring communities into public participation to explore security systems that are pro-life and pro-people," Barasa asserted. Her uncompromising stance reflects a growing national frustration with the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA), which critics claim lacks the necessary prosecutorial teeth to enforce meaningful, long-lasting change.

A History of Stalled Reforms

Kenya''s journey toward modern police reform has been fraught with complex political hurdles. Following the promulgation of the progressive 2010 Constitution, sweeping changes were theoretically introduced to transition the entity from a "Police Force" to a "Police Service." However, civil society maintains that this transition has been purely cosmetic.

Recent nationwide protests over the rising cost of living and deeply unpopular tax hikes tragically resulted in numerous civilian fatalities, squarely placing the conduct of anti-riot squads under intense global scrutiny. For the average Kenyan navigating the streets of Nairobi or Kisumu, the uniform often inspires profound fear rather than a sense of civic security.

• Civil society groups are demanding community-led security frameworks.
• Dozens of civilian fatalities were reported during the most recent nationwide tax protests.
• Critics argue that IPOA requires enhanced prosecutorial powers to be truly effective.

Building a Pro-Life Security System

The proposed alternative revolves around the concept of community-centric policing. This model advocates for security architectures where local neighbourhoods have a direct, binding say in how they are policed, drastically reducing the heavily militarized presence currently deployed in low-income urban settlements.

Implementing such a radical overhaul would require immense political willpower and substantial financial restructuring. However, advocates remain steadfast. "We cannot continue to fund an institution that routinely turns its weapons against the very taxpayers who sustain it," Barasa concluded, setting the stage for what promises to be a protracted national debate on justice and security.