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Faith Odhiambo, the President of the Law Society of Kenya (LSK), delivered remarks at the National Policing Conference on Monday, highlighting the importance of professionalism, integrity, and accountability within the National Police Service.
Addressing the attendees, Odhiambo emphasized the significant role of the police in the administration of justice and stressed the need for maximum professionalism and dedication to serve. She noted the LSK’s commitment to ensuring that police actions are lawful and free from impunity, abuse of power, excessive force, and extrajudicial killings.
Odhiambo highlighted the LSK’s involvement in Public Interest Litigation as a crucial mechanism for holding the police accountable for their actions. She affirmed the society’s dedication to upholding the best standards of practice and urged the police to fulfill their mandate to the people of Kenya with integrity and respect for human rights.
Expressing concerns over challenges within the police sector, Odhiambo raised issues regarding the Inspector General’s involvement in partisan matters and the perceived lack of independence in ensuring public safety, particularly during disasters such as the ongoing floods. She emphasized the need for the police to refrain from abusing their powers and called for accountability when officers overstep their boundaries.
Odhiambo cited specific incidents, including the shooting of a doctor’s strike leader by a police officer, and highlighted the failure to hold accountable those responsible for abuses of power in cases such as the Kianjokoma boys and the Willy Kimani case. She underscored the importance of tangible police reforms and expressed disappointment in the lack of action from oversight bodies such as the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA).
In conclusion, Odhiambo urged for transparency and accountability in addressing police misconduct, emphasizing the need for concrete action to be taken against officers found to have violated the law. She reiterated the LSK’s commitment to working with other stakeholders to ensure that the police uphold the rule of law and protect the rights of all Kenyan citizens.