On 4^th October 2023, the Taskforce on Police Reforms presented a progress report to H.E President Dr William Ruto at State House Nairobi.  The taskforce, which is led by Chief Justice (Rtd.) David Maraga as Chairperson and KEPSA CEO Ms Carole Kariuki as the Vice Chairperson, was mandated to identify and recommend legal, policy, administrative, institutional and operational reforms on effective service delivery by the National Police Service (NPS), Kenya Prisons Service (KPS) and the National Youth Service (NYS).

President Ruto accepted three key recommendations that are expected to have far-reaching implications for NPS, KPS and NYS. The recommendations include the proposal that the three services be moved to the security sector in regard to remuneration and terms of service; the creation of two entry points into the NPS as Constable and Cadet levels, whose requirements will be defined by NPS Commission; and a NPS transfer policy where no officer should remain in a single station for more than three years.

Speaking during the handover, the Head of State noted that the ongoing reforms build on past efforts aimed at tooling and retooling the security organs, as Kenya seeks to make its security organs more capable of addressing the security challenges that the country faces. “We commit to improve the Service, including their remuneration and other terms of service,” said President Ruto.

The President also said that there is a compelling public interest in institutionalizing welfare reforms of internal security organs whilst also fostering the citizen-facing service elements of the NPS whose pace of reform matches public expectations.

Justice Maraga announced that the taskforce will present its final report within a month.

Leaders present during the event included Deputy President H.E Rigathi Gachagua, Prime Cabinet Secretary Hon. Musalia Mudavadi and Cabinet Secretaries Hon. Kithure Kindiki (Interior) and Hon. Aden Duale (Defence) and Attorney-General Hon. Justin Muturi, Inspector-General of Police Japhet Koome, Deputy Inspector-Generals Douglas Kanja and Noor Gabow, National Police Service Commission Chairman Eliud Kinuthia, National Security Advisor Dr Monica Juma and other taskforce members.