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{
    "id": 112168,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/112168/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 225,
    "type": "other",
    "speaker_name": "",
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    "speaker": null,
    "content": "Mr. Speaker, Sir, the issues emerging from the incident that took place at Kawangware highlight the need to address the issues of police accountability. Indeed, the ongoing comprehensive police reforms have identified police accountability as one of the most critical and urgent areas of reforms. The recently appointed Police Reforms Implementation Committee has finalised the drafting and validation of a Bill to establish an Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA). The Bill will soon be presented to the Cabinet and later to this Parliament for debate and enactment into law. The establishment of the IPOA will provide Kenyans with an independent mechanism for addressing complaints by members of the public against the police. Whereas the IPOA will serve as an external accountability mechanism, strengthen internal accountability of the police is also priority in the ongoing reforms. A team of experts on policing have been seconded to the Police Reforms Implementation Committee to assist the police to audit their internal accountability mechanism and recommend the necessary changes. Another area that is being given priority in the ongoing reforms is the review of the training curriculum of the police to incorporate human right issues and other modern policing practices. The review is expected to be completed in the month of April this year to ensure that the next recruits who will join the police training colleges after July, 2010 undergo training on the new curriculum. I strongly believe that with the right training curriculum and effective oversight mechanism, that will hold police accountable, such incidents will greatly be reduced. The ongoing police reforms will be carried out to weed out the bad elements that are denting the image of the police service. I want to report that the Police Reforms Implementation Committee has embarked on this exercise in line with the recommendations of the National Taskforce on Police Reforms. Mr. Speaker, Sir, I would like to state that the killings at Kawangware has been a matter of great concern and, indeed, embarrassment, coming at a time when we are in the process of implementing police reforms. However, I would like to inform hon. Members that despite this setback, we will make sure that reforms will be implemented with speed in order to change the police culture of arbitrariness, harassment of members of the public, abuse of office and the use of excessive force, including extra judicial killings. Finally, Mr. Speaker, Sir, I want to assure hon. Members and, indeed, the general public that thorough investigations will be carried out expeditiously and action taken against officers implicated in accordance with the law."
}