Nominated Senator Karen Nyamu stirred a heated debate in the Senate on Wednesday after giving official notice of a motion seeking the mandatory installation of CCTV cameras in all police stations, holding cells, and reporting desks nationwide.
During the charged session, Nyamu urged the Senate to compel the National Government, through the Ministry of Interior and National Administration, to install functional and tamper-proof CCTV systems that are monitored in real-time, with securely stored footage accessible during investigations.
“The Senate resolves that the National Government installs functional and tamper-proof CCTV cameras in all police stations, cells and police reporting desks across the country, ensures that all CCTV systems are monitored in real-time and that footage is securely stored and made accessible during investigations,” Nyamu said.
Citing the controversial death of blogger and activist Albert Ojwang at the Nairobi Central Police Station in June, the Senator said her motion is a direct response to growing public concerns about safety and accountability within police custody. Ojwang died under unclear circumstances while in custody, prompting the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) to launch investigations into possible misconduct and alleged tampering of CCTV evidence.
Nyamu also criticized the government’s inaction despite previous recommendations, including those by the Justice David Maraga-led task force, which called for the modernization of police facilities to enhance transparency and restore public trust.
“Despite the recommendations by the Justice Maraga task force, little or no efforts have been made to ensure modernization of police cells by installation of Closed-Circuit Television (CCTV) cameras and police reporting desks, thereby affecting public trust and accountability on what happens to persons in police custody,” she said.
The motion further proposes that police officers and commanders be held personally accountable for the failure to operate or maintain CCTV systems and for any attempts to delete or tamper with surveillance footage.
Nyamu emphasized that the move would not only protect the rights of detainees but also safeguard police officers from false accusations. Her proposal aligns with recent directives by Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen, who in June ordered the installation of CCTV systems in all 1,209 police stations across the country over the next two years.
The motion is set to be debated in upcoming Senate sittings and could proceed to formal resolution and legislative drafting. If passed, it would mark a major milestone in institutionalizing police oversight through law rather than policy.
