An instructor at the Kenya Police College Anthony Munga is the new police spokesman, taking over from Eric Kiraithe, who moves to the Kenya Airports Authority (KAA) as general manager-security.

The National Police Service Commission (NPSC) announced Munga will be deputised by Mary Omari, who is a provincial traffic officer. An Assistant police spokesman Charles Owino becomes the director, internal affairs while Cecily Ngatiti is the director, human resources.

NPSC said the positions of police county commanders have been created ahead of the March 4 General Election. Meanwhile , violence in the aftermath of the 2007 Kenyan elections which claimed 1,300 lives shows just how vital it is Kenyan police are properly prepared ahead of polls this March, Amnesty International said in a new report, Police Reform in Kenya.

“A Drop in the Ocean” details how delays in implementing new laws on policing mean that many of the same police structures in place during 2007-8 post-election violence will be responsible for security for the March 4, vote.

“With five weeks to go to the elections the Kenyan authorities must show the political will and take urgent measures to prevent human rights abuses during the election period.” said Sarah Jackson, Amnesty International’s Deputy Africa Programme Director.

The report documents continued human rights violations by the police, despite ongoing reform, including arbitrary arrests and ill-treatment. The police have also failed to protect people from human rights abuses in the Tana Delta, where 200 people have been killed and 112,000 displaced since August 2012.

And there has been little movement towards bringing the police to account either collectively or individually for these human rights violations. The report urges the authorities to take immediate steps to improve capacity so that security officials are able to prevent abuses, and ensure that they themselves refrain from human rights violations during the elections.

Amnesty International urges the National Police Service Commission to publish a code of conduct for the police during the election period and to ensure all law enforcement officials receive training ahead of polls opening, including on limitations on the use of force, and non-violent tactics including negotiation and mediation. “The authorities should ensure there is a clear strategy for how the elections will be policed,” said Jackson, “It should include commitments to the public on how the police will prevent human rights abuses and keep them safe.”

After the elections, the newly inaugurated government should act swiftly to demonstrate its commitment to police reform, and address shortcomings which underpin impunity for police abuses. This must include ensuring that all police bodies, including those responsible for standards, have the necessary funds to carry out their vital work.
“By taking immediate steps ahead of the March 2013 elections, and by prioritising the implementation of reform once voting is over, the Government of Kenya can finally end the impunity which the police have enjoyed for far too long,” said Jackson. “It must not miss this opportunity.”