Maraga proposals that could reform the police service

President Wiilliam Ruto receives the report of the National Taskforce on Police Reforms from the Taskforce Chairman David Maraga at State House, Nairobi. [File, Standard]

When former Chief Justice David Maraga submitted the comprehensive National Taskforce on Police Reform report to President William Ruto on November 16, 2023, it was viewed as a decisive turning point to dismantle state-sanctioned violence and restore the police's institutional integrity.

Three years later, the recommendations gather dust while the National Police Service descends into unprecedented brutality.

Following the police involvement in crime, impunity and corruption, Maraga asked the president to make the report public within seven days.

Failure to do so, he threatened to release the report to the public.

The report had pointed out gaps in the police service, including rampant corruption, heightened police brutality, rise in crime and political interference, raising public concerns about the duties of the police.

The executive discussed the misuse of police for partisan political objectives, lack of professionalism, and compromised policing standards.

The murder of Dr Victoria Mutiso on July 29, 2026 exposed how hollow the recommendations remain.

DCI investigations revealed that active-duty police officers, including a post commander, namely Inspector Kenneth Sang and Constable Elijah Kimoi, acted as a hired hit squad using state-issued weapons to execute a private assassination.

When active-duty commanders operate as criminal syndicates, it demonstrates that internal oversight has completely collapsed, something the Maraga Taskforce sought to end.

Another recent case of police brutality is the sudden death of Bernard Cheruiyot, 23, in custody at Keringet Police Station in Kuresoi South, Nakuru County.

This triggered an investigation by the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA).

Brian Ndung'u, 23, an architecture student, died under suspicious circumstances in custody at Kiambu Police Station.

These murders involving police, if the report handed to Ruto had been implemented they could not have occurred.

The Maraga Taskforce report also sought to end police interference in politics, and stated that the past partisan use of police has eroded public trust and professionalism.

The report was expected to address police interference with opposition-led demonstrations, treating political assembly as a threat to the ruling regime rather than a constitutional right.

Alongside police selective disruption of opposition rallies, where regional police commanders have repeatedly been declaring opposition and dissident political gatherings "unauthorised.

On many occasions the police have been heavily deployed to disperse assemblies, block access roads, and intimidate politicians critical of the working government policies.

Again, recently, police were deployed along the Southern Bypass in Kikuyu Town to block Rigathi Gachagua’s DCP party rally.

Officers fired teargas canisters and live warning shots into the air to prevent the motorcade and supporters from entering the town center

In dealing with corruption in the National police Service, the Taskforce stipulated that corruption in the NPS remains endemic and is deeply embedded in the institution's culture.

It says police jobs were allegedly sold to people who could afford them or given to relatives of powerful and politically connected individuals a move that has been undermining the integrity of the institution.

It also reports that police recruitment was affected by corruption, nepotism, favoritism, tribalism and political influence, with some recruitment slots allegedly being sold for up to Sh600,000 or more

According to the report, political influence and bribery corrupt every stage of career progression within the National Police Service (NPS).

From candidates buying entry or relying on godfathers, to serving officers bribing superiors or granting favors to secure transfers, promotions, and favorable deployments.

This pervasive pay-to-play culture extends directly to operational roles, with traffic police singled out for conflicts of interest that further institutionalize corruption across the service.

The report says corruption also affects transfers, deployments and procurements in the NPS.

The Maraga Taskforce found that the NPS lacks strong and competent leadership, with some leaders failing to implement reforms despite existing laws.

Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murokomen has faced harsh condemnation from civil society and rights organisations for defending police excesses.

This is after issuing a shoot-to-kill directive at protestors, which critics say allows police to act with impunity and violate constitutional limits on lethal force.

Critics and public commentators have called out IG Douglas Kanja for failing to proactively prevent police brutality and political violence.

Rather than asserting independent operational command as envisioned by Maraga

The task force blamed the weaknesses on the way police bosses are appointed.

The report recommends fresh vetting of senior officers and calls for open, fair and competitive recruitment of the IG, Deputy IGs and DCI director.

The Maraga taskforce stipulated that transforming the National Police Service required an absolute end to political capture and command impunity