IPOA Unveils Sh17 Billion Plan to Tackle Police Accountability

IPOA Chairman Isaack Hassan/FILE

The Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) has unveiled a five-year roadmap worth Sh17 billion to strengthen oversight of police conduct and restore public confidence in law enforcement.

The plan comes at a time when Kenyans are raising alarm over cases of police brutality and rights violations. It is IPOA’s third strategic framework, designed to deepen accountability, promote respect for human rights, and reinforce trust in both the Authority and the National Police Service (NPS).

Despite its ambitions, IPOA revealed that funding and staffing constraints threaten the plan’s success.

The Authority operates with only 289 staff out of an approved establishment of 1,377, leaving a huge gap in its mandate to monitor more than 130,000 officers across over 3,000 police facilities nationwide.

At present, IPOA’s operations are limited to nine regional offices.

Board chairperson Isaack Hassan said the Authority will pursue reforms through five key focus areas: improved accountability within the police service, stronger public confidence in IPOA and NPS, deeper partnerships, institutional efficiency, and better data management for evidence-based oversight.

“These strategies will help uphold constitutional policing standards and provide a clear path towards accountability,” Hassan noted.

The implementation cost is estimated at Sh17 billion, yet IPOA has secured only Sh7.4 billion about 44 per cent below its requirement.

That leaves a funding gap of Sh5.8 billion, which Hassan warned must be filled through “sound resource mobilisation strategies” if the plan is to succeed.