Amnesty criticises move to amend police laws

Inspector General David Kimaiyo speaks during a press conference in Nairobi March 5, 2013. Human rights violations will worsen if the government goes ahead with attempts to amend key laws meant to regulate the country’s police force, a watchdog has warned July 30, 2013. FILE   NATION MEDIA GROUP

By PETER OBUYA potieno@ke.nationmedia.com
Posted  Tuesday, July 30   2013 at  10:31

 

Human rights violations will worsen if the government goes ahead with attempts to amend key laws meant to regulate the country’s police force, a watchdog has warned.

Amnesty International (AI) on Tuesday warned that amendments proposed by Inspector General David Kimaiyo to the police reform package, which has got the approval of Interior and National Coordination Cabinet Secretary Joseph ole Lenku, will severely water down the reforms and eliminate the safeguards created to discipline and regulate the force.

"Police reforms are vital for Kenya and it would be disastrous if they get diluted at the eleventh hour,” said Sarah Jackson, Amnesty International’s Deputy Director for Africa.

"The police have been acting as if they are above the law for years and the government must honour the commitments it made in the wake of the post-election violence and carry through these essential reforms,” she added.

The National Police Service (Amendment) Bill 2013 and the National Police Service Commission (Amendment) Bill 2013, which are meant to clarify the responsibilities of the IG and that of the National Police Service Commission (NPSC) give the police boss more powers.

Political interference

The two Bills are likely to be tabled in Parliament this week. However, AI has warned that such a move would place the powers of the police at greater risk of political interference.

The police boss will not be obliged to act on the recommendations of an oversight authority if the two Bills receive Parliament’s nod.

The NPS Act required the police boss to act on the recommendations of the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA), including compensation to victims of police misconduct.

However, that section has been deleted in the proposed amendments and the watchdog now says the move could present serious setbacks to the reforms.

“This really is a case of one step forward, two steps back. What promised to be a badly needed shake up is unlikely to deliver on the key goal of a professional and accountable police service that is free of government interference,” said Mrs Jackson.