Otieno: Police reform must prioritise civilian control, not more weapons

During a panel discussion on Citizen TV's DayBreak, Otieno responded to public outrage over Albert Ojwang's death in police custody, calling it a clear example of systemic failure.

“Buying equipment and calling it reform is misguided. All we’re doing is arming a rogue militia with modern tools of oppression,” Otieno said. “These are weapons being turned against the very people they are meant to protect.”

Otieno described the political capture of Kenya's police service, accusing elements of the force of prioritizing entrenched political interests over public safety.

“The police have allowed themselves to be used by legacy politicians,” he said. “When an officer shoots an unarmed Kenyan, as in the case of Boniface, they see it as service to a political cause—not law enforcement.”

According to Otieno, this politicisation has resulted in a disturbing pattern during protests, in which officers are deployed to suppress dissent rather than maintain order.

“This is not law enforcement—it’s political enforcement. Civilians are no longer seen as citizens but as enemies,” he warned.

Otieno argues that genuine reform must start with implementing the constitutional mandate under Article 239, which requires the police to be subordinate to civilian authority.

“If we are serious about reform, we need civilian oversight committees in every police station,” he said. “These bodies should have the authority to inspect occurrence books, monitor the use of firearms, and question officers on duty.”

Such committees, he explained, would be empowered to demand accountability. “Who was issued a gun? When was it used? Who fired the bullet, and was anyone injured? These are the basic questions we need answered,” Otieno stated.

The lawyer cited Ojwang's death, allegedly tortured while in custody, as a clear example of why procedural reforms alone are insufficient. “You can’t call it reform when someone dies inside a police station. The system itself is broken,” he said.

In response to growing public concern, Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen defended the integrity of the entire police force while promising strict action against individual officers who abuse their authority.

Murkomen spoke on June 13 at the National Police Leadership Academy in Ngong, where President William Ruto presided over an event. He emphasized the government's commitment to protecting Kenyans from rogue officers.

“We cannot allow a few officers—whether 50 or 100 out of 120,000—to define the entire force,” he said. “Every individual case of misconduct will be dealt with firmly.”

Murkomen also reiterated that no police officer would be permitted to misuse their firearm or authority with impunity.

“The citizens of this country must know that they have our full support in holding accountable any officer who misuses a firearm or abuses their power,” he added.