Regional Commanders on tour of Othaya Community Policing Model

We had an insightful meeting today with Deputy Director Community Policing and Gender Phidiliah Kisinyo on areas of partnership in community policing, gender-based violence and psychological support in policing.

Slider|26 May 2021

Mweiga Community Policing Committee team, visited Mwireri secondary school and sensitized the students on May 26, 2021 on the Prevention of Torture Act 2017

Slider|26 May 2021

Left to Right; Adv. Isabella Obara, Mr Maina (the Deceased’s Father) and Adv.Isinta Nyaribo during Evans Njoroge case in Meru County in January 2021

Slider|21 April 2021

Kongoni CPC leaders and IMLU staff after a briefing by the OCS and DOCS on May 14, 2021

Slider|21 April 2021

Rights of arrested persons

Slider|02 March 2021

The shadow report has officially been launched by IMLU ED Peter Kiama, OHCHR KENYA , and the office of Attorney General Kenya

Slider|02 March 2021

SABASABA march for our lives demonstrations in July 2020 held in Mathare

Slider|25 February 2021

Kenya prison officers during their training on combating torture and ill-treatment in places of custody in September 2020

Slider|24 February 2021

Strategic Priorities

Support to the Reforms agenda

To inform and influence the enactment and implementation of at least five (5) reforms on prevention and response to torture, violence and discrimination by 2021 Key Strategies / Broad Interventions:

Advocacy for enactment and implementation of at least 5 laws (2 new/pending policies and implementation of 3 existing laws)
Media advocacy on public policy at county, national and international levels
Treaty body engagements e.g. Africa Commission, EAC, UN, etc.
Building and supporting advocacy partnerships at the local, national, regional and international levels
Promoting strategic advocacy networks, collaborations e.g. PRWG, CBO anti-torture movements, etc.
Occupation of critical advocacy spaces e.g. relevant State commissions
Support perpetrators knowledge, attitude and behavior change initiatives

Redress and Rehabilitation

To improve access and utilization of holistic redress and rehabilitation services for at least 6,000 survivors of torture, violence and discrimination by 2021 Key Strategies / Broad Interventions:

Direct and holistic service provision to survivors (medical, legal, psychological and structured referrals for socio-economic empowerment)
Promoting partnerships and networks for routine and urgent services
Referrals for provision of services
Enhance protection of witnesses, victims and HRDs
Awareness and sensitization of survivors and general public e.g. use of IEC materials, media and community outreaches

Social Capital and Strategic Alliances

To nurture social capital and active use of at least eight (8) strategic alliances for the prevention of torture, violence and discrimination by 2018

Key Strategies / Broad Interventions:

Enhanced engagements with IMLU’s networks of professionals (lawyers, doctors, journalists, human rights promoters, counsellors and paralegals, among others)
Continuous building of social capital through capacity building
Structured engagements with other key actors (CBOs, NGOs, youths, academic institutions, professional bodies) at the national, regional and international levels
Strategic physical presence and positioning in select counties across Kenya
Building a constituency of survivors and families
Media advocacy to enhance IMLU’s visibility at the county, national and international levels

Strategic information for Evidence based interventions

To generate at least ten (10) research products and proactively use such strategic information to prevent and respond to torture, violence and discrimination by 2021

Key Strategies / Interventions

Expand the scope of research to cover IMLU’s mandate in totality generating at least 10 research products
Undertaking periodic torture survey every 5 years to inform programming and advocacy
Research partnerships with academic, government agencies, renowned research institutional, associates and other professional bodies
Develop IMLU’s internal research generation, utilization and dissemination capacity e.g. instituting a research desk / department
IMLU’s resource center for operational, strategic and academic research

Institutional Strengthening and Sustainability

To enhance IMLU’s capacity to deliver on its mission and goals and institutional sustainability beyond 2021

Vision

A World free from torture, violence and discrimination

Mission:

To prevent and respond to torture, violence and discrimination by engaging with state and other nonstate actors in rehabilitation, redress, research, advocacy and movement building, capacity building, and accountability.

All the 8 Regional Police Commanders who underwent training at the Loresho Police Training School congregated at Othaya Police Station on a learning tour of the Community Policing Programme in the area on 2nd February, 2019. The Programme is one of the 4 supported by IMLU with support from Diakonia-Sweden in the county.

The meeting was also attended by the Directorate of Police Reforms at the National Police Service (NPS), our development partner Diakonia -Sweden, the Nyeri County Police Commander, the Nyeri County Policing Authority members , Community Policing Committee and Community Policing Forum among others.

According to the Nyeri Police Commander, Ali Nuno, the most prevalent challenges they experience are the Mungiki and spill over of Gaza. He added that they however have recently seen a rise of cases of radicalisation.

“We have introduced community policing as a strategy in preventing and solving crime. There's reduction of crime for instance 3 days ago there was a vehicle which was suspected of being used by terrorists, we received live updates from residents of the vehicles whereabouts,” said Nuno.

He further appreciated the support that we have accorded the officers in order to realize a safer community.
“We have partnered with IMLU and they have assisted us in building the capacity of officers. We are addressing the software 'attitude change’, he added.

Speaking during the function, Inspector John Kirima from the police station admitted on the changes that they have witnessed ever since they started collaborating with community members.
“Initially there was a problem especially with boda bodas. The riders used to run away from us every now and again. Today I can attest that this has changed since we established the Community Policing Committees (CPCs) and the Community Policing Forums (CPFs)”, said Kirima.

Speaking during the event, IMLU Director Peter Kiama emphasised on the need to embrace Community Security as the best measure in curbing insecurity in the country.
“As IMLU we are very grateful for the community that welcomed us to support the initiative whose fruits we're talking about today”, said Kiama.

According to the Central Regional Police Commander, Judy Lamet, the success witnessed at the Othaya Police Station is one that should be replicated across the region.
‘As I start my work in Central, I will ensure that the model that we have seen here is duplicated in other Mt. Kenya counties”, she said while thanking IMLU and the local community for the efforts.

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