NAIROBI, Kenya – The Kenya Police Service (KPS) has been singled out for attracting the highest number of complaints from the public, according to a new report by the Internal Affairs Unit (IAU), raising fresh concerns about declining trust in the force.
Out of 918 complaints filed in 2024, a staggering 714 — or 78 per cent — were directed at KPS officers.
The Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) received 155 complaints (17 percent), while the Administration Police (AP) accounted for 49 complaints (five percent).
Nature of Complaints
The report highlights a wide range of grievances. The most common — 379 cases — involved officers failing to act when required.
Harassment, bribery, and intimidation were recorded in 91 cases each, while other complaints cited unlawful detention, obstruction of justice, threats to life, physical assault, brutality, and negligence.
Despite heightened scrutiny over police violence during youth-led protests, the IAU reported no complaints of deaths caused by police, and only one complaint involving excessive force, serious injury, or misuse of firearms — a finding that sharply contrasts with civil society reports describing 2024 as one of the deadliest years in recent memory.
Who Filed the Complaints
The majority of grievances (784 cases, or 85 per cent) came from members of the public.
Police officers themselves lodged 112 complaints against colleagues or supervisors, while organisations filed 12 cases. Another 20 were submitted anonymously.
Men accounted for 66 percent of complainants, women for 23 percent, with the remainder being anonymous or unspecified.
Geographically, Nairobi led with 42 percent of all complaints, followed by Rift Valley (15 percent), Central (12 percent), Eastern (11 percent), and Nyanza (10 percent). Other regions reported less than 10 per cent each.
Action Taken
Of the 918 complaints received, 576 were escalated for further investigation or administrative action, while the rest were resolved at IAU headquarters or regional offices.
At least 56 cases were referred to the Inspector General’s office for review.
Eroding Public Confidence
The findings paint a picture of a police service struggling with persistent misconduct, neglect of duty, and eroding public trust.
The KPS has faced widespread criticism over its handling of protests in 2024 and 2025, where officers were accused of excessive force, unlawful arrests, and harassment of civilians.
The report underscores the urgent need for reforms, accountability, and a citizen-centered policing model to rebuild trust between law enforcement and the public.
