President William Ruto has appointed Ahmed Isaack Hassan as the new chairperson of the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA). The appointment is detailed in a gazette notice dated December 5, 2024.
Hassan, a former chairperson of the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC), was shortlisted for the position on October 8 by the Public Service Commission, alongside eight other candidates. He was later nominated by Ruto on November 12, along with members of the authority: Ann Wanjiku Mwangi, Micah Onyiego Nyakego, Boniface Kipkemoi Samati, Annette Mbogoh, John Muchiri Nyaga, Kenwilliams Nyakomitah, and Jackline Lukalo Mwenesi.
The nominees were officially appointed through the same gazette notice.
During his vetting by the National Assembly on November 22, Hassan committed to outlawing the use of unmarked vehicles in police operations. He noted that such practices have often been abused by officers, leading to violations of human rights and creating challenges for IPOA in tracking misconduct.
He also proposed the introduction of body cameras for police officers during operations to enhance accountability and foster trust within the police service.
“We must restore trust in our police force. We must get a police service that is going to keep law and order,” Hassan stated.
Hassan, an Advocate of the High Court, brings 30 years of experience as a legal practitioner and consultant across Kenya, Somalia, South Sudan, Namibia, and Afghanistan.
He holds a Diploma in Law from the Kenya School of Law and a Diploma in Contemporary Public Administration Management from Galilee International Management Institute, Israel.
Hassan previously served as the IEBC chair from November 9, 2011, to October 6, 2016. Before that, he was the chairperson of the defunct Interim Independent Electoral Commission (IIEC) between May 2009 and November 2011. He has also served as a Commissioner in the Constitution of Kenya Review Commission (CKRC) and as a legal consultant for UNDP Somalia’s Constitution-Making Project.
IPOA is tasked with investigating deaths and serious injuries caused by police action, addressing police misconduct, and monitoring and auditing investigations conducted by the Internal Affairs Unit of the National Police Service.
Additionally, the authority oversees inspections of police premises, monitors policing operations and deployments, and handles complaints against the police to ensure transparency and accountability within the service.
