Reassembling the Kenyan Security Sector: The Role of Civil Society Organizations in

Security Governance

Bernard Musembi Kilaka

Maseno University

Working Questions1. How has security sector reforms been conceptualized

at the global level?2. How has security sector reforms in Kenya been

assembled?3. What is the contribution of Kenyan CSOs to the SSR

process in the country?4. What is the nature of the relationship between the

state and CSOs?5. To what extent are Kenyan CSOs capable of

participating in both the SSR process and security governance?

Background: Why Police Reforms?

• Reforms initiatives in post-PEV Kenya• Role during the post election election-violence of 2007• Regime preservation roles by the police• History of impunity and gross violation of human rights• Corruption

Theoretical FrameworkGlobal Security Assemblages Theory(Rita Abrahamsen and Michael Williams, 2011)

Gilles Deleuze (1968) social formations as assemblages of complex configurations.

Data Collection

1. Interviews- Semi- structured2. Participant observation

Findings: SSR (Police Reforms) in Kenya

1. Vetting process of police all police officers2. Establishment of new institutions (NPSC, IPOA and

IG)3. Strengthening the capacity of actors involved in

security governance4. Symbolic changes-Name change from Kenya Police

Force to Kenya Police Service

2. CSOs and SSR in Kenya1. Vetting process of police officersVetting tools, urging public to be involved, observer status,

2. Civic education and enhancing local ownership of SSR

3. Advocacy and watchdog functions

3. Nature of relationship btwn CSOs and Government•Confrontational with the executive and police

•Collaborative with the statutory oversight bodies i.e. NPSC, IPOA, KNHRC

Challenges to police reforms •Lack of political will•Corruption• Institutional challenges •Security challenges•Lack of public participation

Challenges that CSOs face• Fears over personal security•Ostracization by the state• Lack of reliable sources of funding• Lack of security expertise• Loss of experienced members to the government•New members with no passion for CSOs agendas

Conclusion•The study established that there is a general acceptance of CSOs participation in security governance. •However, their involvement has mainly been on the ‘soft issues’ such as civic education on police reforms and human rights trainings.