Perception of factors influencing indiscipline among Administration Police Officers at Embakasi Area, Nairobi County.

Abstract

Police Departments worldwide are plagued by numerous incidents of excessive use of force, torture, verbal abuse, dishonesty, abuse of authority, sexual assault, demand for sexual favors, and discourtesy, among other forms of indiscipline. There are no official statistics on the number of indiscipline cases among police officers despite IPOA and IAU reports of increased cases of indiscipline and criminality by junior police officers across the country. This study sought to investigate factors associated with indiscipline of the administration police officers at Utawala/Githunguri area of Nairobi County. The objectives of the study were: to find out if there is a relationship between DSA and police indiscipline by administration police officers; to assess the correlation between job promotion issues and indiscipline by the concerned administration police officers; to determine the extent to which transfer related issues is a contributory factor to police indiscipline at the area of study; to establish whether an officer’s level of remuneration is related to his/her level of indiscipline; and to identify measures to be taken to curb administration police officers’ indiscipline at the area of study. A descriptive study design was used in the study, with a sample size of 140 respondents. Data was collected through the use of key informant interviews and Questionnaire. The study was conducted at NPS A Campus, Mihango AP Post and Utawala/ Githunguri AP post and involved junior police officers, police supervisors, personnel and officials from IPOA, KNCHR, NPSC and IAU. The study findings concluded that cheap alcohol is the most prevalent type of DSA while the main implications of DSA among police officers was decreasing confidence by the public and poor police performance. Ethnicity, favouritism and corruption in promotions were the most prevalent job promotion issues while implications of job promotion issues include poor police performance and increase in criminal incidents. The most prevalent transfer related issues were unfair transfers done while the main implications of job promotion issues were poor police performance and decreasing confidence by the public. The study also found that financial rewards was the most prevalent remuneration issue, with poor salary as the main concern. The study recommends that Government should provide adequate funds to improve the working conditions and improve DSA Policy initiatives while fairness in promotion and transfer should be maintained. Efforts should be made to motivate officers while punitive disciplinary measures should be reduced. Further studies are recommended in the other training institutions and areas in the country and benchmarking on best practices of addressing police indiscipline in other countries.