Influence of Independent Policing Oversight Authority on the Performance of Police Officers in Kenya: a Case of Nairobi City Sub-county

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to determine the influence of the Independent Policing Oversight Authority on the performance of police officers in Nairobi city sub county, Kenya. The objectives of the study were to; determine how holding police accountable to the public, assess how promoting professionalism in the service, establish how independent oversight of handling of complaints by the service, assess how management capabilities of IPOA and determine the moderating influence of the National Police Service Commission influences the performance of police officers. The study was grounded on the deterrence theory in criminology. Proponents of deterrence believe that people choose to obey or violate the law after calculating the gains and consequences of their actions. The study had a target population of 400 drawn from police officers, IPOA staff and the public. Krejcie and Morgan formula was used to calculate the sample size which was 196.Piloting was conducted using 19 respondents which formed 10% of the sample size. This study used a descriptive survey research design where questionnaires were administered to Police officers, IPOA officials and the public in Nairobi City subcounty Content Analysis and descriptive analysis were employed to analyze the collected data. Tables were used to present the collected data for ease of understanding. The study demonstrated that the police, IPOA and citizens hold different views on the role of police accountability on police performance. The study concludes that police accountability has had varying and minimal effect on police service delivery. The study also established that police reforms are yet to promote high standards of professionalism and enhance performance in service delivery. The study also found out that IPOA handling of complaints has enhanced police service delivery. The study revealed that the public and IPOA agreed that management capabilities of IPOA has influenced the performance of police officers in Kenya. The study results imply that most of the respondents believed that IPOA has the human capacity to carry out its mandate. From the study findings it can be suggested that National Police Service Commission has not been effective in improving police service delivery. The study recommends for IPOA to proactively deal with police misconduct by investing more on research into factors that can improve police service delivery and recommending policy and strategy changes to the relevant Authorities. The results of this study will be beneficial to IPOA, NPSC and NPS in the implementation of the police reform agenda.