Kenyan Police Officers Banned from Using Social Media to Air Grievances

Inspector-General of Police Hillary Mutyambai has issued a directive barring police officers from airing their grievances through social media.

Mutyambai said he was concerned by the rising cases of officers using social media platforms to discuss their challenges before exhausting the laid down channels. 
 
“The Inspector-General has noted with a lot of concern that officers have developed a habit of using social media to advance their grievances without exhausting the laid down channels which include quality assurance/complaint and gender offices at service headquarters and the internal affairs unit,” Mutyambai said in a memo.

Henceforth, officers will require special permission to speak publicly about their challenges and it will be an offense to do so without consent.

In March, a female officer attached to the Mombasa traffic department released a video online complaining of sexual harassment, frustration, and discrimination by her seniors.

"I just want to resign and do another job as a civilian, the internal affairs office which is supposed to assist officers is not helping at all, I ask the President to disband that office because it's of no help," she said.

Mutyambai directed the Gender and Children's Directorate to investigate her claims and file a report within seven days.

Last week, another policewoman based at Lang’ata Police Division decried harassment and intimidation by her bosses.

Rehema Swaleh narrated how she was forced to work while heavily pregnant and sick.

“Even at nine months they wanted to see me at work but I sent the OCPD a text and a photo of my swollen legs explaining why I would not report to work,” she narrated.