Police brutality in Kenya during the election period

Master's Thesis from the year 2019 in the subject Politics - International Politics - Topic: Public International Law and Human Rights, , language: English, abstract: This research explores cases of police brutality in Kenya during the election period. The study explores police brutality in post-police reform period from 2010-2018. It is a qualitatively done study through content analysis, mainly a review of the newspapers and articles detailing cases of police brutality in Kenya. These data are analysed thematically regarding the research question.

The findings of the research concerning the research question found that the police brutality is still happening in Kenya, mostly during the elections period. The study further found that there is an ingrained culture of police brutality, which is influenced by historical, contemporary social-cultural and structural dimensions.

I concluded the study with implications of the findings, for the theory and the research. Further, the study suggests the reform policies within the context and adherence to the constitution. The proposal offers two approaches, from below and from above. The research suggests, one, an establishment of grassroots and, encourages community policing: two, review of the police recruitment and police training curriculum. Three, an increase of financial and human resources support to the Independent Policing Oversight Kenya (IPOA). Four, laying down proper parameter which will separate Police from executive authorities, and firth, addressing the socioeconomic status of the police officers.