The National Police Service topped the list of government institutions where complaints were filed against them at the Office of the Ombudsman.
According to an 11-year review report by the Commission on Administrative Justice (Ombudsman), the National Government Administrative Officers (NGAO) and the Ministry of Land follow closely as agencies with the most complaints.
The 2012-2023 Ombudsman report was launched in May 23, 2024, at the Kenya School of Government in Lower Kabete.
During the launch, it was revealed that complaints against the police centred around delayed investigations, which according to Ombudsman, hampered access to justice.
The Ombudsman, in the year under review, resolved a total of 25,501 cases, which represents a 59.8% resolution rate out of the total 42,478 lodged against different government agencies.
The report by the Ombudsman shining light to the urgent need and speed of implementation of reforms in the National Police Service.
On October 4, 2023, President William Ruto received a reforms report from former Chief Justice David Maraga-led Taskforce on Police Reforms that entailed three key recommendations expected to have far-reaching implications to the service.
The recommendations included; remuneration and terms of service, the creation of two entry points into the National Police Service: at Constable and Cadet levels and the enforcement of a new transfer policy where no officer shall remain at one station for more than three years.
“We commit to improve the service, including their remuneration and other terms of service,” President Ruto said while receiving the report.
In the review report by Ombudsman, the majority of lodged complaints were filed in Kisumu, Mombasa, and Eldoret.