Willis Otieno: OCPDs should be elected by people
By Mabonga Makhanu, September 18, 2025Safina Party Deputy Leader Willis Otieno has stated that, should they clinch power in 2027, they will ensure that OCPDs are elected by the people in their respective divisions rather than appointed, as has been the case.
Speaking during the party’s National Delegates Conference on Thursday, September 18, held at Ngong Racecourse, Willis assured Kenyans that if Safina forms the next government, police excesses will be a thing of the past.
He expressed frustration over the conduct of some police officers, accusing them of committing crimes, carrying out unlawful arrests, and often justifying their actions by claiming they had “orders from above”. According to Willis, the only cure for this problem is to have OCPDs elected directly by Kenyans. This way, accountability will shift from distant authorities to the people themselves.
He argued that once OCPDs are elected, they will be compelled to perform their duties diligently, fully aware that any misconduct or failure to meet public expectations could cost them re-election.
“The ‘above’ must be the people. Every OCPD in this country should be elected by the people of that division. We must give power back to the people—that is our promise on security,” Willis declared.
Handing-over ceremony
These declarations happened during the party’s NDC at the Ngong racecourse that saw Paul Mwite hand over the party’s leadership to the young Turks.
Muite handed over the party’s constitution and the members’ registry, and then later a staff akin to the one used by Moses while leading the Israelites out of Egypt to symbolise the change of leadership and continuity of the party under Wanjigi.
Although less prominent in recent years and remaining inactive, the party’s silence was broken in the run-up to the 2022 general election after presidential aspirant Jimi Wanjigi was chased out of ODM and joined the party.
This followed his demand that former Prime Minister Raila Odinga shelve his presidential bid and support him instead, arguing that he had supported Raila twice before and expected support in return. The fallout turned dramatic when angry ODM supporters confronted him at the party’s headquarters, forcing police to intervene and save him.
Hours later, Wanjigi addressed the press at a Nairobi hotel, lamenting what he described as betrayal by a party he had long supported. Days later, he announced his presidential bid on the Safina ticket, which was welcomed by then-party leader Muite.