Corruption in Police Undermines Security

A recent study by researchers from Egerton University has laid bare how deeply interwoven corruption within the police force and wider society is undermining security in Nairobi County. The investigation, carried out in Embakasi North, attributes rising crime and persistent instability to a co‑dependent system of corrupt practices between law enforcement and citizens. Rather than being isolated cases of rogue officers, the authors argue that corruption is systemic—and it poses a serious threat to both public trust and national security. RSIS International+2IDEAS/RePEc+2
Using a cross-sectional survey of 196 residents alongside interviews with 10 key informants, the researchers uncovered multiple forms of police corruption stretching far beyond payoffs. These include bribes to release suspects from custody, assistance in evading arrest, evidence tampering, and deliberate disclosure of sensitive police operations. IDEAS/RePEc+1 The study also found that corruption among political leaders, the judiciary, and governing institutions contributes to the decay. In some cases, politicians influence promotions of unqualified officers, while in others the justice system fails to hold perpetrators to account—creating an environment of impunity. RSIS International+1
The impact of this corruption is not merely moral: according to the authors, it provides fertile ground for organized crime and even terrorism. Criminal networks exploit corrupt police officers to secure protection, gain insider information, and evade justice. RSIS International This dynamic, the study warns, can erode the effectiveness of security institutions and reduce Kenya’s ability to defend itself. When law‑enforcement institutions are compromised, citizens lose faith, crime surges, and the very legitimacy of the state is jeopardised.
To address the problem, the authors recommend a systems-level response instead of the usual bad-apple approach. They call for sweeping reforms across institutions—not just within the police—with stronger political will, stricter accountability, and sustained anti-corruption measures. IDEAS/RePEc Without tackling corruption at both societal and institutional levels, the study argues, Nairobi’s insecurity is likely to deepen—and its security institutions will remain vulnerable to manipulation and capture.