Kenya Police Oversight Bill passes first reading

Kenya's Parliament is in the process of enacting several significant Bills for pre-trial justice. The Independent Policing Oversight Authority Bill provides for civilian oversight by an independent authority, whose primary function is to investigate any complaints related to disciplinary or criminal offences committed by any member of the Police, whether on its own or on receipt of a complaint, and make recommendations to the relevant authorities, including recommendations for prosecution, compensation, internal disciplinary action or any other appropriate relief, and must make public the response received to these recommendations. The Bill passed its first reading in Parliament on 18 August 2011 and is set to be enacted this year.