Interior Cabinet Secretary Kithure Kindiki has appointed a National Steering Committee to oversee the implementation of the Maraga Taskforce’s proposed reforms. These reforms will affect the National Police Service, Kenya Prisons Service, and the National Youth Service over the next three years.
The committee will be chaired by Raymond Omollo, Principal Secretary of the State Department for Internal Security and National Administration. It includes Principal Secretaries from the National Treasury, Correctional Service, Public Service, and Cabinet Affairs.
Additional members comprise the Solicitor General, Inspector General of Police, Commissioners General of Kenya Prisons Service and National Youth Service, and the Chairpersons of the National Youth Service Commission and the Independent Policing Oversight Authority.
The Steering Committee also features representatives from the Chief of Staff and Head of Public Service, the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions, Public Service Commission, Salaries and Remuneration Commission, National Youth Service Council, and the Kenya Law Reform Commission.
Kindiki has officially gazetted the mandate of the newly appointed National Steering Committee in a notice dated September 13.
The committee’s primary responsibilities include coordinating, supervising, and providing technical guidance for the implementation of reforms proposed by the Maraga Taskforce. They will establish a roadmap and strategic framework for these reforms, oversee technical committees and working groups, and review and approve their recommendations. The committee will also ensure timely funding, implement a communication strategy, manage change, and build capacity throughout the reform process. Additionally, it will coordinate with relevant government bodies, development partners, and private sector interventions through a clear stakeholder engagement strategy.
The committee will prioritize recommendations from the National Taskforce Report on the Improvement of Terms and Conditions of Service and other reforms for the National Police Service (NPS), Kenya Prisons Service, and National Youth Service (NYS) for immediate action. They are tasked with providing technical guidance, aligning the reforms with government policy objectives, mobilizing resources, preparing quarterly status reports for the Cabinet Secretary, and conducting research and studies as needed.
A technical committee, appointed earlier, is tasked with reviewing and developing policy reforms based on the Maraga Taskforce report. Gazetted on August 23, 2024, this technical committee comprises 13 members and seven joint secretaries. It will analyze policy reforms, review other reports, provide legal advice, draft bills and policy proposals, and hold meetings to discuss progress. The Technical Working Group is expected to submit a report to the Cabinet Secretary within nine months, though this period may be extended if necessary, potentially extending the reform rollout beyond a year.
The Committee’s Secretariat will facilitate consultations with relevant agencies and support the committee’s efforts throughout the process.
The Secretariat will be responsible for developing and implementing the activities of the Committee and preparing detailed reports on outcomes.
The Terms of Reference for the technical committees include proposing amendments to key laws and policies related to the security sector. This involves the National Police Service (Amendment) Bill, the National Police Service Commission (Amendment) Bill, and the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (Amendment) Bill. Additionally, the National Correctional Services Policy and the Kenya Correctional Services Bill are currently open for public input.
In line with the reforms, the policing technical working group is also drafting the National Forensic Laboratory Bill and reviewing the police training policy, curriculum, human resource guidelines, career progression frameworks, and police welfare management.
Kepha Onyiso from the Attorney General’s office has been appointed as Chairperson of the committee, with Musita Anyangu serving as Deputy Chairperson. Charles Otieno will act as the technical advisor.
The government requires an estimated Sh108 billion to implement these extensive reforms.
The report highlighted several issues including political interference in the National Police Service (NPS), corruption in employment and promotions, deficiencies in the police training curriculum, an inadequate National Police Service Commission (NPSC), the role of the Cabinet Secretary for National Security, and the structure of the Internal Affairs Unit (IAU) in the police.
Maraga emphasized the need for political goodwill for the successful implementation of these recommendations, pointing out that similar proposals had previously been made but were never enacted. He noted that effective reform would be difficult without addressing leadership issues.
The task force stressed that prioritizing transparency, professionalism, and community engagement could significantly reshape the police service and rebuild trust between law enforcement and the public.
The report also noted challenges in evaluating and determining appropriate remuneration for the services, criticizing the Salaries and Remuneration Commission for using inappropriate tools and failing to recognize the unique nature of these services compared to mainstream public service roles.
The task force recommended creating a “Disciplined and Security Services Sector” to include the Kenya Defence Forces (KDF), National Intelligence Service (NIS), NPS, Kenya Prisons Service (KPS), and National Youth Service (NYS) as a distinct budget sector. They proposed a 40 percent salary increase for the lowest rank in these services, along with a decompression ratio, and suggested a new allowance for non-uniformed NPS members.
To combat issues of misappropriation, the task force recommended automating and directly depositing all allowances into officers’ bank accounts. For the NPS Airwing (NPSAW), the report advised its restoration under NPS control, while ensuring adherence to Kenya Civil Aviation Authority (KCAA) standards. It also recommended that Parliament provide adequate resources or consider leasing police aircraft similar to the approach used for police motor transport.
