A new report by the Police Service Delivery Performance Survey 2021 has revealed that a majority of Kenyans are contented with the force. 

It shows that issuance of free police abstracts and other forms top the list of services that about 63 per cent of Kenyans are satisfied with.

Released yesterday, the report says that respondents cited nine main reasons for satisfaction with the service, at the top of the list was not being asked to pay for abstracts (54 per cent), followed by how police perfectly handled their issues (25 per cent), and were helpful, approachable and friendly (13 per cent).

Effectiveness

But while the survey suggested police effectiveness was a vital factor in public satisfaction, surprisingly almost 28 per cent of the respondents that reported dissatisfaction with the service said police asked for a bribe while 11 per cent reported inaction.

“Police unfriendliness was also another reason for dissatisfaction with the service for nine  per cent of the respondents,” the report.

Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang’i yesterday said though the satisfaction and level of confidence increased, there was still a lot to be done to deepen the confidence of Kenyans.

“We need to manage our officers better. Let us not run away from our responsibility when members of the public raise complaints with us,” Matiang’i said.

Matiang’i observed that indiscipline was another major issue and needed to be nipped in the bud, saying a majority of the officers  were fairly young people, who are facing challenges and needed guidance.

“I think as seniors we have not been managing the troops and   junior officers who have been entrusted to us.

A time has come that we need to be a bit more strict in terms of how we coordinate and organise the officers. We have to ensure they are completely disciplined,” he said.

Police commanders were urged to visit and regularly meet their juniors. 

“Recently we have noticed some challenges related to drunkenness and poor behaviour on some of our junior officers, which we are already dealing with,” he said.

The Minister said officers needed to be candid with members of the public. “Some of these things are embarrassing and frustrating but we have to face them,” he said.

Regarding the killing of two people at the Rioma Police Station in  Kisii, the CS said investigation was almost through and asked the commanders to be truthful when such incidents occur.

“I want to commit to the public that we will act and take decisions in the direction that the investigation is going to show us.

If there are officers who were involved they will of course face the full force of the law,” he said.

Survey also identified insufficient funding and delay on disbursement of funds as a major reason for poor service delivery.

According to the survey, the Authority to Incur Expenditure (AIE) allocation to police divisions only covered 48 per cent of the cost of running over 1,400 police stations.

Insufficient funding

 “Nearly 800 police stations are yet to be funded under the AIE allocations to police divisions,” the report shows.

Study involved 127 Police Station Commanders, 1,811 police officers and 2,244 covering 47 counties.

Handling of  complaints was another area the study suggested needed  improvement, after 21 per cent of respondents expressed satisfaction.

Discipline scored 48 per cent due to increased number of allegations and offences against police officers, the highest of which was disobeying lawful command (21 per cent), followed by negligence (21 per cent), physical assault (16 per cent) and harassment and intimidation (10 per cent).