NAIROBI, Kenya – A new government report has revealed that years of implementing community policing in Kenya have not significantly improved public trust in the National Police Service (NPS), with deep-seated systemic, historical, and structural issues continuing to define public experiences with law enforcement.
The report, released this week by the National Crime Research Centre (NCRC), shows that while community policing has enhanced cooperation in some areas—such as information sharing and joint crime prevention efforts—it has not translated into improved public confidence in the police.
According to findings from 11 counties where community policing programmes have been implemented, 50% of respondents said the initiative had no impact on their trust in police, 33% reported increased trust, while 17% said their trust had declined.
“This is a pointer to the fact that there are still long-standing systemic, historical and deep-seated structural issues in the NPS that continue to negatively shape public experience, perceptions and opinion about the police,” the report states.
Youth Most Affected by Poor Relations with Police
Among groups facing strained relations with police, young people top the list at 59%, followed by boda boda operators (22%), the business community (22%), and men (14%).
Others include matatu operators, victims of crime, and women in some contexts.
The report attributes the police’s poor relationship with youth to over-policing, blanket swoops, profiling, and a general tendency to view young people as likely suspects.
Corruption and harassment persist
Public mistrust is further fuelled by persistent corruption (82%), delayed police response to emergencies (65%), and harassment or intimidation (51%).
Other concerns include collusion with criminals (50%), unlawful arrests (38%), and excessive use of force (21%).
Kenyans also cited lack of police visibility (25%), abuse of power (24%), discrimination (17%), and human rights violations (11%) among grievances against the police.
Community Policing Hindered by Resource Gaps, Fear, and Apathy
While introduced in 2005 under former President Mwai Kibaki to foster closer ties between the police and the public through initiatives such as Nyumba Kumi, community policing has faced multiple setbacks.
The report identifies resource constraints, low public awareness, and lack of motivation among police and community members as key barriers.
It also notes public fear of reprisals, suspicion of informers, and weak monitoring of policing committees as major impediments.
“Many also believe that corruption among rogue officers has hindered the effective application of community policing,” it adds.
Calls for Reforms and Accountability
To restore public confidence, the report recommends that NPS urgently address rampant local crime, improve response times, and establish transparent, community-driven policing strategies.
It further calls on the Ministry of Interior and Coordination of National Government to address “long-standing systemic, historical, and deep-seated issues” within the police service, and for oversight bodies like IPOA and EACC to strengthen accountability.
A paradigm shift in the way police engage with youth, transport operators, women, and businesspeople is also necessary, the report urges.
“Police alone cannot effectively tackle security problems,” the document concludes. “The NPS must revitalise community policing as a key strategy to identify crime trends, hotspots and criminals—and rebuild trust.”
