Complaints Handling Mechanism Modes by State Security Agencies: A Case of the Independent Policing Oversight Authority in Kenya

Abstract

This paper seeks to delve into interrogation of complaint handling mechanism modes by State Security Agencies in Kenya through the case of Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA). While benefiting from the following objectives; finding out existing complaints against State Security agencies, examining Independent Police Oversight Authority’s (IPOA) Complaints Handling Mechanism (CHM), and establishing the Nature of complaints against Security Agencies; the study envisages to contribute to the unending debate on accountability of Security Agencies and filing of complaints on abuses thereof as a channel to access to justice. The study is a product of field data in addition to document analysis and information gathered from relevant written sources. The analyzed findings is presented in the study through graphs, tables, and content analysis. Complaints filing against Security Agencies is a universally approved mode of checking excesses by the Security Agencies with civilian oversight establishments such as IPOA being the focal points of complaints handling. This paper therefore, explored IPOA’s Complaints Handling Mechanism (CHM) as a gateway to police accountability in Kenya. The study established that complaints against State Security Agencies in Kenya are broad in nature and to address them, IPOA adopted an Open Door Policy for complaints handling. Further as a complaints management strategy, IPOA embraced cooperation with other state agencies as a viable route to actualizing its mandate. In conclusion, the study established that the CHM had positively impacted on complaints reporting. The study recommends that IPOA as an institution controlling security sector behavior should focus on the after-processes to complaints reporting so as to realize its founding mandate.