The court ruled on Friday, December 16, that police officers should not use their firearms unless their lives or the lives of those they are protecting were in danger.
The ruling followed a petition by the Katiba Institute, which challenged amendments to the National Police Service Act.
The amendments expanded the circumstances in which officers can use firearms beyond self-defence and the protection of another person.
"High Court holds that the police cannot use firearms unless they are acting in self-defence or to prevent an imminent threat to life or serious injury to others," Katiba Institute stated.
Police were previously allowed to use their weapons to protect property even if there was no risk of serious physical harm to the officer or others.
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According to the Katiba Institute, using firearms when there was no threat of serious harm to the officer or others was unconstitutional and violated the right to life.
The ruling comes after Inspector General of Police Japhet Koome asked police officers not to hesitate to use their firearms to protect themselves and the citizens.
Koome said that the police will not be intimidated in their line of duty as they were mandated to protect life and property.
"We shall not be intimidated. We have the mandate to protect life and property. I repeat, we shall not be cowards," Koome said.
