Nominated MP Sabina Chege has called for a re-evaluation of Kenya’s police recruitment process.
Speaking on Tuesday, June 10, Sabina argued that the current system fails to attract top performers, which could be affecting the quality of service delivery and professionalism in the force.
"If you look at how we enroll into our police service, the people in the police service, even education-wise, we don't look for the top performers. And I think that is one thing we need to re-examine. These are people we entrust with the security of our nation. These are people we entrust with so many lives," she said.
Sabina's remarks come at a time when the National Police Service (NPS) is under public scrutiny following the death of Albert Ojwang while in police custody at the Central Police Station in Nairobi.
Addressing the incident, Sabina expressed concern over the lack of transparency and called for a credible investigation into the circumstances surrounding Ojwang’s death.
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"I'm very sure there are CCTV cameras in the police station. There is the OB, the Occurrence Book, which shows who brought in Albert Ojwang, the time he was booked, who took him to the cell, and who visited him.
"We need clarity, just like we've seen in other cases where prominent Kenyans have lost their lives, and we've had clear timelines of events, follow-ups, and arrests. I hope the police can redeem themselves this time by conducting a thorough and transparent investigation and telling Kenyans what happened to Albert Ojwang," she said.
In a statement on Monday, June 9, the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) said it had visited and documented the cell where Ojwang was locked in and dispatched officers to City Mortuary ahead of his postmortem exercise.
"As part of the investigation, the Authority has already visited and documented the scene, established contact with the family, and at present, has officers deployed at the City morgue where a post-mortem examination is scheduled to take place today," the statement read.
The oversight body also noted that it has interviewed five officers from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI), and recorded their statements.
"The findings thereof, shall inform the Authority's further communication to the public on the progress of investigation and recommendation to relevant State agencies and in particular, the Director of Public prosecutions in the event criminal culpability is established," the statement added.
