Former IEBC CEO James Oswago has cautioned that while Kenya’s police are highly trained and knowledgeable about the law, political interference and careerism often compromise their actions during elections.
Speaking in an interview on Radio Generation on Tuesday, Oswago said the police are “very well trained… they understand the law backwards,” but systemic issues, including promotions and rewards based on loyalty rather than merit, pressure officers to act in ways that serve political interests rather than legal or ethical standards.
“The issue in the Kenyan police is not lack of knowledge or competency… it is careerism,” Oswago said. He claimed that many senior positions are filled not just on professional merit but to advance political ambitions, tribal considerations, or other non-professional factors.
“Often the police do things that they themselves know should not be done,” he added, noting that these pressures compromise the integrity of the force.
Oswago highlighted the close interaction between the police and the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) during elections.
“Whenever there is a general election or a by-election, there is liaison between IEBC and the police at the lowest levels if issues arise,” he said.
In such cases, police officers may follow instructions not because they lack knowledge, but because they are acting under political pressures.
He emphasised that free, fair, and accountable elections are a shared responsibility, requiring both an independent electoral commission and an independent police force.
“If you have the most independent IEBC but a politicised police service, you will run into problems,” he warned. Focusing solely on the electoral body without addressing issues within the police leaves the election environment vulnerable.
Oswago also pointed to the root causes of compromised conduct within the police.
“Why do they bend to pressure? Two factors: the promotion system, which is often not based on merit, and the reward system. If a system rewards meritocracy, you get commitment to merit. If it rewards loyalty, you get loyalty to interests, not to law or ethics,” he explained.
He concluded by calling for reforms to ensure the police operate independently and professionally.
“The Kenya police are professionals. They know what is to be done… maybe one day you’ll have a police force that fully operates on merit and professional principles,” Oswago said, stressing that credible elections depend on both an independent IEBC and a professional, impartial police service.
His comments underscore the importance of tackling political influence and structural weaknesses within the police to safeguard the integrity of Kenya’s electoral process.
