Government Spokesperson Charles Owino has called for greater investment in the training and professional development of police officers, arguing that a competent and well-equipped police service is the foundation of effective law enforcement and public safety.
Speaking during a Radio Generation interview on Thursday, Owino said policing demands quick judgement, sound decision-making and a deep understanding of the law, qualities that can only be achieved through continuous training rather than public criticism.
He noted that police officers frequently operate in dangerous and unpredictable environments where they must make life-or-death decisions without guidance from their superiors.
"Police officers often find themselves in situations where they have to act on their own without the opportunity to refer to their books or their superiors. You are patrolling at night somewhere and there is an attack. You can't take your phone and call your boss because as you delay, you'll be a victim," he said.
Owino described policing as one of the country's most hazardous professions, claiming that between 600 and 800 police officers lose their lives annually while on duty. He added that the number has declined in recent years following reduced attacks along Kenya's borders.
He cited the 2015 Kapedo attack, in which 42 police officers were killed in a single day, as a reminder of the dangers officers face while carrying out their duties.
According to Owino, the complexity of police work is often underestimated despite officers playing a central role in the criminal justice system from the time an offence is reported until a case reaches court.
"People think policemen don't even need to read. And I ask people, who enforces the laws and regulations of the land, and how can you enforce the law if you don't know the law?" he posed.
He explained that investigators are responsible for recording witness statements, collecting evidence, obtaining forensic reports and preparing case files before they are submitted to the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions.
"In court, it's the policeman to record the statements, collect evidence, get your forensic analysis and prepare a case file. It goes to the DPP already prepared. The DPP does not help the police solve the problem. They can only tell you to cover this point or that point if they think something has not been covered," he said.
Owino maintained that strengthening policing should begin with building the capacity of officers through quality education, practical training and continuous professional development.
"If you don't have competent police officers, you start by investing in competent police officers even before you criticize them," he said.
The Government Spokesperson also pointed to Kenya's long-standing practice of appointing academically accomplished officers to senior police leadership, saying the country has consistently recognised education as a key pillar of professional policing.
A career police officer, Owino served in the National Police Service for nearly three decades, including as Officer Commanding Police Division in Njoro, security head at the Kisumu County Government, Deputy Director of Communications and National Police Service spokesperson for more than 10 years before leaving the service in 2021.
He later served as Deputy Director at the Kenya National Focal Point on Small Arms and Light Weapons and, before his appointment as Government Spokesperson in July 2026, was Acting Head of Government Communications in the Ministry of Information, Communications and the Digital Economy.
Owino, who holds a Master's degree in International Relations from the University of Nairobi, said sustained investment in professional policing is essential to uphold the rule of law, strengthen public confidence and enhance national security.