Institutional Reforms and Performance of National Security: a Case Study of National Police Service in Kenya Between 2008 and 2015
Abstract
Security institutional reforms have a direct influence on national security. This
study therefore, investigated the impact NPS institutional reforms have on service
delivery and professionalism, the role of oversight institutions in regulating Police
operations and identified the challenges impeding successful NPS reforms. The
study was premised on four objectives: establishing the link between institutional
reforms and NPS service delivery in Kenya; examining the impact of institutional
security reforms on NPS professionalism; investigating the role of oversight
institutions in promoting Police-public cohesion and regulating Police operations;
and identifying impediments to institutional reforms in NPS. The research was
guided by institutional theory in data collection, analysis and data interpretation.
Thus a mixed methodology entailing both qualitative and quantitative data
collection and analysis methods were utilized. Using a survey method, the study
administered questionnaires to Police officers and members of public from both
Makueni and Nairobi Counties. IBM Statistical Package for Social Sciences version
21 program was used to analyse quantitative data after coding data collected
through the questionnaires. The study established that NPS reforms had generally
improved service delivery and professionalism of Police officers. However, reforms
have not altered Police welfare and salaries, and addressed biasness in promotions.
In addition, the study revealed that oversight institutions had failed in their mandate
resulting into flawed Police operations. Lastly, the research identified challenges
impeding NPS reforms‟ success in Kenya. The study thus concluded that nonaddress
of Police salaries, housing and allowances had impacted on officers‟ morale
and professionalism. Subsequently, NPS officers‟ relation with members of the
public had been compromised and affected Police operations. The study thus was
used to gauge progress of NPS reforms by identifying both the successful and
neglected areas for address. Consequently, the study made both practical and
theoretical recommendations. Practically, the study recommended SRC‟s fasttracking
of Police salaries, housing and allowances; legislation formulation to avail
funds for equipping of NPS; curriculum development to address work ethics,
attitude and professionalism; revision of the NPS promotional criteria to advance
career progression of officers; and adherence to independence of oversight
institutions. Theoretically, the study recommends further research in far flung
Counties to gauge the impact of the NPS reforms in Kenya.
Publisher
University of Nairobi
Rights
Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 United StatesUsage Rights
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/3.0/us/Collections
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