Police Reform Practices and Service Delivery in the Kenya Police Service at Machakos County Police Headquarters, Kenya

Abstract

This study focused on Police Reforms Practices and Service Delivery in the Kenya Police Service at Machakos County Police Headquarters. Police reforms in Kenya as availed from literature indicate that the colonial government in 1950 made attempts on reforming the police force. The appointment of the National Task Force on Police Reforms arose mainly from the post-election violence in 2007-2008 where hundreds of Kenyans lost their lives, thousands of people were displaced and property destroyed. This is because the police officers used excessive force, they were not trained to handle the violence that erupted and they took political sides. In order to address these concerns, the study aimed at examining police reforms practices and service delivery at Machakos county headquarters. Service delivery is a component of business that defines the interaction between providers and clients. Good service delivery provides clients with an increase in value. A well-functioning public sector that delivers quality public services consistent with citizen preferences and that fosters private market-led growth. The specific objectives were to establish the effect of personnel reforms and service delivery, establish the effect of financial reforms on service delivery and to establish the effect of legal reforms and service delivery in the Kenya Police service at Machakos County Police Headquarters Kenya. The significance of the study is as it tackled and documented the effect of police reforms practices and service delivery. It highlights the effect of personnel reforms and service deliver, financial reforms and service delivery and the legal reforms and legal reforms and service deliver. The study was guided by the Resource Based Theory, Servqual theory and the New Public Management Model in analyzing the theoretical background. A descriptive survey research design was used. The study targeted a population of 110 senior police officers in the Kenya Police Service and adopted the census approach to obtain information from every member of the population. Primary data was collected using a semi structured questionnaire, while secondary data was collected through review of literature on police reforms. Pilot study was conducted to validate the questionnaire. Data collected was subjected to quantitative analysis and data was presented using tables, graphs and pie charts inferential statistics was used in the study including correlation and multiple regressions in order to determine the relationship between the independent and dependent variables. Statistical package for social sciences (SPSS) version 22 was used to aid the analysis of the data. The findings revealed that personnel reforms and service deliver, financial reforms and service delivery and legal reforms and service delivery influence service delivery in the Kenya Police Service to a great extent. The findings conclude that personnel reforms have a positive and significant influence on service delivery in the Kenya Police Service at Machakos County Police Headquarters in Kenya. The conclusion on financial reforms and Service delivery, legal reforms and service delivery and financial reforms and service delivery have a positive and significant influence on service delivery in the Kenya Police Service. The findings recommend that the Kenya Police Service at Machakos County Police Headquarters should implement the personnel reforms. The findings also recommend that the police service should give police access to improved salary, savings Sacco and increased allowances. The findings furthermore recommend that legal reforms be instated that will assist in conducting impartial investigations, inspections, audits and monitoring of the National Police Service to enhance professionalism and discipline of the Service.