NAIROBI, Kenya – The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) has committed to supporting Kenya’s National Police Service (NPS) in implementing key reforms outlined by the Maraga Taskforce.
This was confirmed during a meeting between UNDP representatives and Inspector General Douglas Kanja, where strategies to advance modern policing practices were discussed.
The UNDP delegation, led by Governance Advisor Anki Dellnas, Senior Advisor on Governance and Rule of Law Leanne MacKay, and consultant Dan Juma, expressed the agency’s dedication to helping the NPS implement the task force’s recommendations.
The reforms target improvements in police, prison, and National Youth Service (NYS) operations, as well as enhancements in service delivery and working conditions for officers.
Inspector General Kanja emphasized the need for better training to align with modern-day policing and the importance of transforming police stations into hubs of excellence.
“We aim to standardize service delivery and digitize our operations to keep pace with the growing digital world, but this requires significant resources,” Kanja noted.
President William Ruto recently announced that the government would need Ksh106 billion to fully implement the Maraga Taskforce reforms.
Of this, Ksh22 billion will go toward improving officer compensation, Ksh37 billion will be used for upgrading hardware and welfare systems, and Ksh45 billion will be directed toward modernization efforts.
The Maraga Taskforce, which was appointed in December 2022, was tasked with identifying constraints in the NPS and developing a comprehensive reform framework.
The recently launched Strategic Framework for Implementation of Reforms provides a roadmap for transforming these institutions in a coordinated manner.
A National Steering Committee, chaired by Internal Security Principal Secretary Raymond Omollo, was gazetted in September 2024 to oversee the reform process.
President Ruto highlighted the financial burden of the reforms, acknowledging that part of the funding will come from the National Treasury, while the rest will be sourced from investors.
In addition, the government has procured 1,000 e-vehicles to enhance police mobility and is set to build 32,000 houses for officers, addressing the deplorable living conditions many law enforcement personnel face.
“The conditions some of our officers live in are unacceptable,” Ruto said. “We are extending the housing program to include institutional houses for our military, police, NYS, and prisons.”
The president further emphasized the importance of collaboration between ministries, agencies, and the National Steering Committee to ensure smooth implementation of the reforms.
He also called for public participation in shaping policies and any potential constitutional changes required by the reforms.
The inter-agency team is expected to finalize modernization strategies within the next three months, ensuring the necessary funding is secured to propel the reform agenda forward.
This was confirmed during a meeting between UNDP representatives and Inspector General Douglas Kanja, where strategies to advance modern policing practices were discussed.
The UNDP delegation, led by Governance Advisor Anki Dellnas, Senior Advisor on Governance and Rule of Law Leanne MacKay, and consultant Dan Juma, expressed the agency’s dedication to helping the NPS implement the task force’s recommendations.
The reforms target improvements in police, prison, and National Youth Service (NYS) operations, as well as enhancements in service delivery and working conditions for officers.
Inspector General Kanja emphasized the need for better training to align with modern-day policing and the importance of transforming police stations into hubs of excellence.
“We aim to standardize service delivery and digitize our operations to keep pace with the growing digital world, but this requires significant resources,” Kanja noted.
President William Ruto recently announced that the government would need Ksh106 billion to fully implement the Maraga Taskforce reforms.
Of this, Ksh22 billion will go toward improving officer compensation, Ksh37 billion will be used for upgrading hardware and welfare systems, and Ksh45 billion will be directed toward modernization efforts.
The Maraga Taskforce, which was appointed in December 2022, was tasked with identifying constraints in the NPS and developing a comprehensive reform framework.
The recently launched Strategic Framework for Implementation of Reforms provides a roadmap for transforming these institutions in a coordinated manner.
A National Steering Committee, chaired by Internal Security Principal Secretary Raymond Omollo, was gazetted in September 2024 to oversee the reform process.
President Ruto highlighted the financial burden of the reforms, acknowledging that part of the funding will come from the National Treasury, while the rest will be sourced from investors.
In addition, the government has procured 1,000 e-vehicles to enhance police mobility and is set to build 32,000 houses for officers, addressing the deplorable living conditions many law enforcement personnel face.
“The conditions some of our officers live in are unacceptable,” Ruto said. “We are extending the housing program to include institutional houses for our military, police, NYS, and prisons.”
The president further emphasized the importance of collaboration between ministries, agencies, and the National Steering Committee to ensure smooth implementation of the reforms.
He also called for public participation in shaping policies and any potential constitutional changes required by the reforms.
The inter-agency team is expected to finalize modernization strategies within the next three months, ensuring the necessary funding is secured to propel the reform agenda forward.
