The greatest threat to Kenya’s security may not be bandits or terrorists, but the bottle. In a rare and candid admission of institutional rot, Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen has flagged alcohol and drug abuse within the National Police Service as a "serious problem" that is compromising law and order.

Speaking to MPs at a Speaker’s Kamukunji, Murkomen stripped away the uniform’s veneer of discipline to reveal a force struggling with addiction. He cited shocking instances where Officers Commanding Stations (OCSs)—the very commanders entrusted with public safety—have reported for duty intoxicated. In one incident at a "Jukwaa la Usalama" security meeting, an OCS was visibly drunk, a spectacle that erodes public confidence faster than any corruption scandal could. "Addiction is not confined to citizens," Murkomen confessed. "It affects police officers too."

Rehab or The Sack

The CS has drawn a hard line in the sand. The era of covering up for "our boys" is over.Murkomen announced a new, strict framework directed by the Inspector General: no officer is to be deployed while under the influence. The policy is a mix of compassion and ruthlessness. Officers struggling with addiction will be offered a lifeline—rehabilitation centers. However, this is not an indefinite holiday. "You may be given one chance," Murkomen warned. "Beyond that, if you are unable to serve with discipline, you must exit the service."

This ultimatum addresses a critical gap in police reform. For years, the psychological toll of policing—the trauma, the long hours, the isolation—has been medicated with alcohol, creating a culture where drunkenness is normalized. By linking sobriety directly to employment, Murkomen is attempting to break this cycle. He also placed responsibility squarely on the shoulders of commanders, stating that OCSs will be held personally liable if they deploy drunk officers who then misuse their firearms.

• The Karatina Trigger: Murkomen referenced a tragic case in Karatina where a drunk officer shot a businessman. He argued this was avoidable if the OCS had done their job and grounded the officer. It is a stark reminder that a drunk civilian is a nuisance, but a drunk police officer is a lethal weapon.
• The Recruitment Refresh: The CS pinned some hope on the fresh blood of 10,000 new recruits, hoping to dilute the culture of indiscipline. However, without changing the underlying stressors of the job, the new recruits risk falling into the same old bottles.

A Force Under the Microscope

Murkomen’s declaration is a bold step, but implementation will be the true test. Can the police service police itself? The image of a drunk OCS is a powerful symbol of a system in need of detox. As the rehabilitation programs roll out, the public will be watching to see if the police service can sober up, or if the demons of addiction will continue to haunt the men and women in blue.