Two Police Reforms in Kenya : Their Implications for Police Reform Policy <Article>

While it is true that there was (and still is) skepticism among the public that the rhetoric behind the police reform may be a "public relations exercise" (National Task Force on Police Reform, 2009, 25), it is nevertheless also true that expectations are increasing since the Ransley Task Force was convened on May 18, 2009. It is interesting here, however, to point out that this is not the first time that Kenya has undergone police reform. Why are there two, seemingly separate police reforms taking place in Kenya? What are similarities and differences between the current police reform by the Ransley Task Force and that reform which started back in 2003? These are the questions to be addressed in this paper. The first part of the paper will examine the police forces and police oversight mechanisms in the country to understand the situation at the start of the police reforms. The second part will then examine each police reform in Kenya. The paper will conclude with implications of the case of Kenya for police reform policy