Why shocking police deaths compromise safety of Kenyans

Some of the 298 police cadets match past the dais during the pass out parade presided over by President Uhuru Kenyatta at Kenya Police College in Kiganjo, Nyeri county January 20, 2022. [Mose Sammy, Standard] The high attrition rate has left the National Police Service (NPS) grappling with operational gaps in critical areas of policing. With a shortfall of 4,569 officers following exits over the past three years, response to distress calls and emergencies has slowed, patrols have become irregular, and investigations are not through due to inadequate personnel. Further, bosses are grappling with an imbalanced rank structure, distorted staffing, operational and succession plans - challenges attributed to the exit of officers who are yet to be replaced. Notably, there has been no recruitment since 2022 to address these gaps. This paralysis persists despite Kenya facing mounting internal and external threats that require sufficient personnel on the ground. Yet banditry attacks, cattle rustling, frequent assault be Al Shabaab militia, re-emergence of organised criminal gangs and presence of Oroma Liberation Army (OLA) renegades in the country have overstretched police officers as they struggle to contain daily crimes in urban and rural areas. The depletion of numbers has been occasioned through deaths, resignations, dismissals, early retirements and mandatory retirements, according to Inspector General of Police Douglas Kanja when on Tuesday he appeared before the National Assembly's Departmental Committee on Internal Security. The numbers can only be re-filled through recruitment of new officers, an exercise that has not been conducted for three consecutive years following a silent moratorium attributed to lack of funds. "The attrition of 4,569 officers from NPS since the last recruitment exercise in 2022 has significant implications for staffing levels, operational capacity, and strategic planning within the service," Kanja told the legislators. Kanja broke down the shortfall resulting from 1,206 deaths, 326 resignations, 289 dismissals since 2022. During the same period, 2,563 officers went on mandatory retirement, 95 retired under the 12-20 year rule, and 58 retired after turning 50. Another 30 retired after being removed from Service on public interest grounds while two others left as a result of sickness. Amid insecurity threats, dwindling police numbers, poor housing, and lack of adequate equipment and tooling, the police budget for 2025-2026 has been slashed in a move that might further complicate crime prevention and management. Kanja told the MPs that even though, the recurrent expenditure had increased, cuts on development will affect critical operations and projects. The Service had submitted a proposed budget of Sh125.29 billion for the 2025/26 financial year, against a Budget Policy Statement (BPS) ceiling of Sh118.42 billion-a difference of Sh6.87 billion. Kanja was concerned inadequate funding will derail purchase of ammunition and accessories, acquisition of new police uniforms, recruitment of constables, training, maintenance of police vehicles and equipping of the National Forensic Laboratory. However, observers are more concerned with the number of deaths recorded in the past three years. "That 1,206 police officers died in just three years - averaging to 402 annually, is deeply troubling. What could be the underlying issues?. This is a thematic area that, as criminologists, we may really want to research on. These numbers prompt deep queries," noted a senior government official sparking debate on what could be the leading cause of these deaths. Kamau Ngugi, Executive Director, Defenders Coalition, termed the deaths alarming and called for a thorough audit to ascertain the root causes. "This is a very high attrition rate; the figures are alarming, and need to be quantified. If indeed it's true, Parliament must move fast and investigate the causes and come up with mitigating measures," he noted. According to Kamau, officers are highly trained and when they keep dropping and dying, the matter becomes a national concern since the safety of tax payers is at risk, and the country at large. It is widely believed the deaths result from frontline battles, homicides, accidents, sickness and suicides. While downplaying, the trend in deaths, Kanja told The Standard , what was more important was filling the gaps left by the exit of more than 4,000 officers. He said as the country heads into the 2027 General Election, it is important to have adequate numbers and a re-energised service capable of maintaining public order and dealing with general electoral security challenges. "Death occurs in many ways; but what is important is building up numbers as we approach and prepare for elections, we need officers who are prepared. We don't want to face elections with fatigued police officers," noted Kanja. The government has promised to conduct recruitment before the end of this year. Internal Principal Secretary Raymond Omollo early this year promised that the exercise will be conducted subject to availability of funds from National Treasury. Ahead of the expected recruitment, National Police Service Commission (NPSC), the police employer, plans to roll out an online recruitment system. "Every Kenyan deserves a police service they can trust; one that is built on merit, fairness, and integrity. As we continue the journey to transform public service in our country, one truth stands out loud and clear: we must embrace automation in how we recruit our police officers," the Commission's Chief Executive Officer Peter Leley recently told the Senate Standing Committee on National Cohesion, Equal Opportunity and Regional Integration. Police Recruitment System (PRS), a secure, digital platform is expected to transform how new officers are enlisted. "The system will eliminate face-to-face interactions that could open the door to corruption, and replacing them with secure, role-based access and real-time audit trails is a game changer for transparency," explained Leley. The last recruitment freeze occurred between 2008 and 2011 following a task force report on police reforms. The team, chaired by Justice (Rtd) Philip Ransley, had recommended a temporary halt until a revised training curriculum was introduced. Kenya had been on track to meet the UN-recommended police-to-population ratio of 1:450. In 2022, the country stood at 1:461, with 109,857 officers serving an estimated 50.6 million people. However, attrition without replenishment has widened the gap-current estimates put the ratio at 1:507.

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