In a bold move against pervasive corruption within Kenya's law enforcement, human rights organizations, led by Vocal Africa, have called for the complete disbandment of the National Police Service (NPS). This drastic measure follows a damning report by the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC), which highlights the NPS as the most corrupt institution in the country.

The EACC survey unveiled that nearly half of the respondents view the NPS as the government agency most susceptible to unethical behavior and corruption. In stark contrast, the Directorate of Immigration was considered corrupt by only 5.1 percent of those surveyed. Furthermore, the survey indicated a troubling tendency among Kenyans to pay bribes to police officers, with many believing that such payments are necessary to obtain basic police services.

In response to these alarming findings, human rights groups have rejected moderate reforms, stating that the police system is "beyond repair" and advocating for a "total disbandment and recruitment" approach. They propose a new model where policing duties would be devolved to regional commissioners. These commissioners would oversee recruitment, management, and disciplinary measures, ensuring higher accountability and integrity within the force.

The organizations also recommend increasing the academic requirements for police recruits, boosting female officer intake, and strengthening oversight bodies like the Independent Policing Oversight Authority and the National Police Service Commission. They further demand the immediate arrest and prosecution of officers implicated in brutality and extrajudicial killings, and suggest that officers currently holding the rank of inspector or higher should be excluded from the reformed force.

This call for radical change comes amid a backdrop of political unrest and anti-government protests, notably fueled by the youth-led Gen-Z protests against a controversial finance bill and the broader issues of police misconduct and corruption. The situation escalated following the police custody death of a teacher, leading to widespread protests on July 7, which resulted in 31 deaths and over 500 arrests.

The repeated exposure of corruption within Kenya's police and other government sectors, including a past EACC report indicating annual losses of $6 billion to corruption, underscores the urgency for substantial reform. As the nation grapples with these challenges, the world watches to see if this bold call for dismantling and reinventing the police force will usher in a new era of governance in Kenya.