Replacing Ali important but only the first step

Change at the helm of an institution as flawed as the police force is but a first step to reform. President Kibaki’s replacement of Major-Gen Hussein Ali with Mathew Iteere as Police Commissioner is a positive nod to recommendations of such parties as Prof Philip Alston, a UN rapporteur, the Waki Commission and the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights.

Replacing the leadership has a vital psychological impact, just as the public is demanding at the Kenya Anti-Corruption Commission. It was necessary from a perception standpoint, even if in his own way Ali achieved significant improvements in the police force since he took over in early 2004. The real work, however, for which Iteere will have goodwill Ali had no hope of getting, begins now. A vast part of the recommendations and suggestions made by the police under Ali, by Alston, the Waki team, KNCHR and others pres-ume leadership change to be the easiest step. Pushing on with Ali’s strategic plan, fighting organised crime, demonstrating respect for human rights and improving forensic crime-solving techniques are just the beginning. We hope the new man is up to the task.