Acting Inspector General of Police, Noor Gabow, on Friday, October 21, issued a raft of directives to actualise President William Ruto’s declarations during the Mashujaa Day celebrations.
In a statement seen by Kenyans.co.ke, the IG noted that senior police officers will be required to offer guidance to the junior officers as regards their conduct while executing their duties.
The move, according to the statement, will enhance accountability both among the senior officers and the junior officers.
In addition, Gabow directed the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) to finalize all pending cases of reported missing persons and while the Internal Affairs Unit (IAU) was ordered to finalize investigations regarding the involvement of police officers in crime.
“I, therefore, direct the IAU to finalize all matters under investigation where police complicity in crime is the subject matter," read the statement in part.
The IG also urged police officers to uphold the respect for the rule of law while undertaking their roles in the criminal justice system. He reminded security officers that the main mandate is to protect lives.
“Our singular and foremost noble purpose is to protect lives and not take them away unless under extreme circumstances and in strict accordance with the rule of law.
"Officers should be governed by the laws of Kenya and the SSO and should be reminded of their role as servants of the people and not otherwise,” stated IG Gabow.
Gabow's statement came a day after President Ruto changed the structure of the country’s criminal justice system since his ascension to power in early September 2022.
The changes saw the appointment of Mohamed Amin as the new DCI and the reshuffling of top police bosses in various units.
Ruto also reiterated his stance to disband the Special Service Unit arm of the DCI.
He maintained his resolve to have a reformed police service, accusing the past regime of overseeing extra-judicial killings.
"A professional police service fosters harmonious relationships with citizens and communities, cannot be weaponised in pursuit of divisive or partisan agenda and can never resort to disastrous policies like extrajudicial murder as part of policing," Ruto lamented.
IAU summoned officers drawn from the defunct Special Service Unit (SSU) for grilling on the disappearance of two Indian nationals who were part of Ruto's presidential campaign team.
However, the accused cops also wanted their bosses to be grilled.
