Interior and National Administration Cabinet Secretary (CS) Kipchumba Murkomen on Friday, July 18 issued his inaugural policy directive on police use of force and firearms.

Addressing the media after a courtesy call on Samburu Governor Lati Lelelit at his office in Maralal, the CS announced the issuance of the policy that aims to give guidance on use of force and firearms by the police across the Republic.

“I have issued a policy directive on the use of force and firearms pursuant to Article 245(4) of the Constitution, the National Police Service (NPS) Act and the court decisions to the Inspector General of Police,” said the CS.

He continued, “I have dispatched the policy to the IG detailing the recommendations to use force factoring in the prevailing legal framework and court decisions.”

What the policy directive says about police training and counselling;

1. All the officers deployed to enforce law and order shall be selected by proper screening with appropriate moral, psychological and physical qualities for the effective exercise of their functions and receive continuous and thorough professional training. Their continued fitness to perform these functions should be subject to periodic review.
2. All officers shall be provided with training and periodically tested in accordance with appropriate proficiency standards in the use of force.
3. The National Police Serve shall conduct regular de-escalation training programs for equipping officers with the necessary skills and knowledge to effectively implement de-escalation strategies in diverse situations.
4. The National Police Service shall ensure officers are equipped with appropriate crowd control facilities and self-protective gear commensurate with prevailing operational risks.
5. The National Police Service Commission shall give special attention to issues of police ethics, mental health and human rights, alternatives to the use of force and firearms, peaceful settlement of conflicts, the understanding of crowd behaviour, and the methods of persuasion, negotiation and mediation with a view to limiting the use of force and firearms.
6. The National Police Service shall review their training programme, manuals and operational procedures in the light of particular incidents.
7. The National Police Service shall make counselling available to law enforcement officials who are involved in situations where force and firearms are used.
8. Police officers abide by police regulations, force policies and lawful orders.
9. Police officers behave in a manner which does not discredit the police service or undermine public confidence in it, whether on or off duty.