OPINION: What Can We Do to Ensure Women Thrive in the Police Service?

The Federation of Women Lawyers in Kenya (FIDA-Kenya) affirms that gender equality and inclusivity are not mere aspirations but constitutional guarantees under Article 27 of the Kenyan Constitution, which obligates the State to eliminate gender-based discrimination in every sphere, including employment within security agencies.

Recent public discourse surrounding women officers in the police service, including unfortunate remarks made by a police officer, has brought to light the persistent systemic and structural barriers that continue to undermine the effective participation of women in policing. These regrettable remarks reflect a deeper challenge within the National Police Service, which is the failure to fully implement gender-responsive systems that support female officers in urban, rural, remote, and hardship areas.

Women in the police force continue to face inadequate facilities, shared and often unsafe accommodation, a lack of fundamental support structures such as childcare services, and poor access to gender-sensitive equipment and gear. During the recent Gen Z demonstrations, the experiences of some female officers, including physical strain caused by unfit riot gear demonstrate the urgent need for equitable resourcing and training that takes into account the physical realities of all officers, regardless of gender.

FIDA-Kenya reiterates that the solution does not lie in reducing the number of women recruited into the service, but in investing in the right institutional reforms that enable their meaningful participation. A gender-balanced police service is not only a constitutional imperative but also enhances community trust and operational effectiveness in handling diverse security needs.

FIDA-Kenya calls for the full and urgent implementation of the National Police Service Gender Policy (2020-2025) which outlines critical areas for reform, including gender-responsive training, mentorship, leadership development, equitable deployment, and protection from gender-based violence and harassment within the force.

It is worth noting that the National Police Service’s Gender Policy already acknowledges these challenges and outlines robust interventions. These include the establishment of gender offices at all levels of the Service, the commitment to allocate adequate human and financial resources to gender work, mandatory gender mainstreaming training, and systematic monitoring through sex-disaggregated data. What remains is not policy formulation, but deliberate and full implementation to ensure that women officers thrive in a just and supportive institutional culture. This policy, once properly implemented, will ensure that police stations are not just places of work, but safe, empowering, and equitable spaces for both women and men officers.

In addition, we urge the National Police Service Commission and the Inspector General’s office to institutionalise a human rights curriculum in all police training and refresher programs. Respect for human rights and gender equality must be at the core of every police officer’s professional ethos.

As a country, we cannot afford to regress on gains made in women’s representation in national institutions. We must instead confront and remedy the systemic gaps that hinder women’s success. FIDA-Kenya remains committed to working with all stakeholders to ensure a police service that is inclusive, professional, gender-responsive, and aligned with Kenya’s constitutional and international human rights obligations.

FIDA-Kenya