ABSTRACT
In 2003, 40 years after independence from Britain, the Kenya Police announced an ambitious plan to transform itself from an incompetent, corrupt and often brutal force into a professional and democratic service that responds to ‘the needs and expectations of its customers’ (Kenya Police Service 2003: 15). Recognising the central role played by public police in democratic criminal justice systems, the police aimed to ensure their own accountability by introducing measures such as transparent management systems and an independent oversight body capable of monitoring performance and investigating misconduct.
