Chief Justice and President of the Supreme Court of Kenya, Martha Koome, has called on the National Police Service Commission (NPSC) to promote a policing culture that is responsive, accountable, and grounded in respect for human rights.
She made the remarks during the swearing-in ceremony of Peris Muthoni Kimani, Benjamin Juma Imai, and Prof. Collette Suda as Commissioners of the NPSC, and Abdullahi Nur Sheikh Kassim as a Member of the National Heroes Council.
Justice Koome emphasized that the Commission plays a crucial role in delivering on the constitutional vision of a professional and people-centered police service.
“As Commissioners, you occupy positions of significant influence and responsibility in shaping the direction and standards of policing in this country,” she said.
The Chief Justice noted that recent public protests in the country had tested Kenya’s democratic values, and highlighted the need to maintain a delicate balance between the right to peaceful assembly and the duty of police to uphold public order.
“Members of the public must exercise their right to protest peacefully, without arms or acts of destruction, while the police must respond with restraint, proportionality, and full respect for human rights,” she said.
She stressed the importance of distinguishing between peaceful demonstrators and criminal elements who exploit protests to incite violence or engage in looting. “Such individuals must be apprehended and processed through the justice system,” she added.
Justice Koome urged the newly sworn-in Commissioners to uphold integrity, impartiality, and transparency in their work, and to remain faithful to the Constitution in all their decisions.
“As members of the National Police Service Commission, your role in shaping a responsive, accountable and rights-based policing culture is therefore critical,” she said. “Uphold the rule of law and the values of our democratic order in every decision you make.”
She also reaffirmed the Judiciary’s support through the National Council on the Administration of Justice (NCAJ), stating that the justice sector is committed to collaboration in building a system that inspires public confidence and protects the rights and safety of all Kenyans.
In her remarks to Abdullahi Kassim, now a member of the National Heroes Council, Justice Koome encouraged the recognition of national heroes while they are still alive.
“I encourage you to celebrate individuals while they are still with us. Recognising their contributions during their lifetime affirms our national gratitude and strengthens a culture of patriotism,” she said.
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