Douglas Kanja vows comprehensive police reforms

Douglas Kanja, the nominee for Inspector-General of the National Police Service, addressed a joint sitting of the National Assembly Committee on Administration and Internal Security and the Senate Standing Committee on National Security, Defence, and Foreign Relations. He vowed to implement comprehensive reforms in the police force if his appointment is approved by Parliament. At 60 years old, Kanja has been serving as the acting Inspector-General of Police. He assured Kenyans of his commitment to fight corruption within the force, stating, “One of my immediate assignments would be slaying the dragon of corruption.” Kanja, a career policeman who has served the police force for 39 years, highlighted his plans to enhance transparency and accountability. He proposed introducing body cams and name tags for police officers. During his vetting, Kanja disclosed his net worth of Sh46 million, which mainly comprises land, farming proceeds, a house in Nairobi, another in the village, and salary earned over the years. This disclosure was part of his effort to demonstrate transparency and build public trust. Kanja faced tough questioning on the police’s handling of recent demonstrations.

Kanja promises police force accountability

He had a challenging time defending the conduct of officers who used excessive force to suppress protesters. Kanja recounted that the June 25th demonstrations, during which Parliament came under siege, posed significant challenges due to the large number of protesters. The nominee Inspector-General promised to implement regular training for officers and empower the Internal Affairs Unit to probe rights violations by police during anti-government protests. He also vowed to hold violators accountable. Kanja assured MPs that there would be no issues concerning the promotion of officers as experienced during the tenure of the previous Inspector-General, Japhet Koome. He emphasized the importance of collaboration with the National Police Service Commission in the promotion process. Kanja takes on this role at a pivotal time, following Koome’s departure amid anti-government protests. The nation will closely watch how he addresses the proposed changes within the police service.