Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang'i Launches New Police Unit

Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang'i has launched a new police unit dubbed Internal Affairs Unit (IAU).

The new unit has three main functions including investigating complaints against police officers, promoting consistent standards of discipline in the police service as well as keeping records of all complaints received by the unit.

IAU is initially made of 56 officers drawn from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI), the Administration Police Service and the Kenya Police Service. The unit's headquarters are at the KCB Towers in Upper Hill, Nairobi.

The unit will closely work with Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA), Kenya National Hunan Rights Commission (KNHRC) and the Office of Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP). 

"This symbolizes the dawn of a new era in so far as police accountability is concerned; and shall deepen the transformation of the NPS," Matiang'i said during the launch on Friday.

"The transformation will include the adoption of a digital Human Resource Information System bearing accurate, real-time data on our officers including, among others details, their recruitment, training, career progress, deployment and family records."

"This is the first time that such a record has been created within the service’s history; and we believe that it will infuse accountability, efficiency, honesty and professionalism amongst our officers."

The unit will run an internal reporting system known as Anonymous Reporting Information System, where Kenyans will anonymously report rogue police officers.

“Our vision is to establish an internationally credible Internal Affairs Unit,” says Internal Affairs Unit Director Charlton Murithi.