The Independent Policing Oversight Authority has lauded efforts to modernize the National Police Service in Kenya.

Vice-Chairperson Jonathan Lodompui made the remarks after witnessing the launch of Digital Occurrence Book (OB) at Buruburu police station in Nairobi on August 3, 2020.

“Digitization of the NPS processes is a turning point in making police professional and accountable,” noted Mr. Lodompui.

Informed by routine Inspections and Monitoring of Police premises, IPOA has consistently made recommendations to the NPS over the years, stressing the need for proper and empirical records management at the Police Station level.

In this regard, Mr. Lodompui observed that the migration from manual documentation to digitized records is an important milestone that will greatly expand the accountability mechanisms and also ease processes and procedures not only in Police Stations but in the Service in General.

In the process set to be rolled out nationwide, nearly 10,000 tablets will be distributed to police officers to enable them to record reports in the field, away from established police stations.

Mr. Lodompui also noted: “Since inception, IPOA has considered accountability, robustness, and operational effectiveness of the NPS as a key facilitator of the police reforms initiative. To guarantee its fruition, the Authority within its Strategic Plan enshrined Police Accountability as a key strategic objective.”

The launch was presided over by Dr. Fred Matiang’i, the Cabinet Secretary for Interior and Coordination of National Government.

It was also attended by Principal Secretary Dr. Karanja Kibicho, Inspector General of Police Hillary Mutyambai, Director of Criminal Investigations George Kinoti, and Director of Public Prosecutions Noordin Haji.​