Lawyer and Safina Party deputy Willis Otieno has proposed a major shift in police oversight in Kenya, calling for the establishment of a “People’s Board” in every police station.

Taking to his X on Monday, September 29, 2025, Otieno said such boards would allow citizens to actively participate in supervising police activities, shaping priorities, curbing abuse, and ensuring law enforcement serves communities rather than oppresses them.

Citizen participation in policing

Otieno emphasised that communities often bear the consequences of unchecked police power. “With a People’s Board in every police station, citizens will finally have a direct hand in oversight. True security begins when the people themselves are part of the watchtower,” he said.

He argued that Kenya’s policing system still reflects colonial-era structures intended to control rather than protect citizens, noting that historical legacies continue to influence current law enforcement practices.

Firearms scandal

The call comes amid a major scandal involving the arrest of four law enforcement officers linked to an illegal arms and ammunition trade.

The Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) confirmed that an assistant superintendent from the prisons service, two constables, and a corporal were apprehended following surveillance and forensic investigations.

One officer was found with 1,000 rounds of ammunition, while another had a Remington Rand Model 1911 pistol and two Ceska pistol firing pins. The arrested officers are scheduled for arraignment on September 29, 2025.

Ongoing efforts against illegal arms

The arrests follow continued community efforts to curb illegal firearms. In Kerio Valley, Elgeyo Marakwet County, residents surrendered 27 firearms, including AK-47s and G3 rifles, under “Operation Rudisha Bunduki,” raising the total recovered since September 25, 2025, to 232 firearms and 1,595 rounds of ammunition.

Two individuals linked to local banditry also surrendered after a seven-day ultimatum.

Earlier, Inspector General of Police Douglas Kanja banned firearm possession in 13 security-challenged areas of Marsabit County, while President William Ruto marked the 20th anniversary of the Regional Centre on Small Arms in Ngong by burning over 6,000 guns.

Otieno’s proposal envisions Local Community Oversight Committees functioning like boards in schools or hospitals, providing citizens a structured role in supervising police operations.

The initiative aims to enhance transparency, accountability, and trust between law enforcement and the public, creating a system where police officers are answerable to the communities they serve.