Donors who have been backing police reforms in Kenya have allegedly withdrawn some of their funding due to claims of brutality and extra-judicial killings.
According to a damning report in a local daily, the funds that have been withheld are regularly channeled to the police service through the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), as well as aid agencies from the US, UK, Norway, Netherlands and Germany.
The decision to halt the funding meant for operations, equipment and modern skills training was reportedly communicated to high ranking police officials on Wednesday last week at a Naivasha meeting.
[caption caption="Inspector General of Police Joseph Boinnet"]
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Independent Medico Legal Unit (IMLU) Executive Director Peter Kiama divulged that another retreat had been organized for Naivasha this week to review the status of police reforms.
IMLU is the body behind the Police Reform Working Group (PRWG-K) that brings together over 10 civil society organizations including the Kenya National Human Rights Commission (KNCHR) and the Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA) in a push for police reforms.
Kiama stated: "There has been general fatigue towards supporting police reforms because, in the area of knowledge, attitude and practice, that is not evident in the way the police are behaving.
"We haven't seen a turnaround in the attitudes, behaviour and practice," he was quoted by the Star.
Ruth Nzembi, also of IMLU, confirmed that the Naivasha meeting would be attended by civil society players, police representatives as well as representatives of the US, UK, Norway, Australia, Sweden, Britain and Netherlands
When contacted, Inspector-General of Police Joseph Boinnet stated that he was not aware of the donors' reported move.
"I am not aware of it and I can't comment on something I am not aware of. Find out from those that are doing it," the IG highlighted.
The Independent Police Oversight Authority (IPOA) has also reportedly been unable to undertake the annual Outstanding Police Awards in 2017 as it's donor partners have called for an audit into the impact of the awards over the past three cycles.
[caption caption="Police dispersing protesters in a previous incident"]
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