The National Assembly on Wednesday passed the National Police Service Commission (Amendment) Bill, 2024, marking a significant legislative victory for its sponsor, Dr. Peter Masara Member of Parliament of Suna West, and setting the stage for mandatory mental health support for police officers.
The bill, which now moves to the Senate before Presidential Assent, seeks to formally incorporate mental health and wellness support into law for all officers under the National Police Service (NPS).
The legislation mandates the National Police Service Commission (NPSC) to prioritize mental health support, structured counseling, and wellness programs.
Crucially, it further mandates the establishment of mental wellness centers in every county to offer services in partnership with the Ministry of Health.
Responding to a ‘Silent Crisis’
The legislation directly responds to the well-documented mental health crisis within the service.
MP Masara, presenting his proposal to the Gabriel Tongoyo-led committee, stressed that psychosocial support is the “missing link” in police reforms.
“Hon. Chair, when I served in this Committee in the last Parliament, I got an opportunity to traverse over three-quarters of police stations in the country.
My experience from my interactions with police officers is that there is a missing link in the reforms being undertaken to improve their welfare.
This missing link relates to the psychosocial support that these officers are in dire need of,” Masara told the committee.
Masara noted that the Bill addresses gaps identified in the 2020 Mental Health Taskforce Report, which he said had previously overlooked the mental health needs of the police service.
Previous studies by both the NPSC and the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) have highlighted that mental health risks have hampered policing effectiveness and service delivery.
The urgency of the matter was echoed by Inspector General Koome, who previously admitted that mental health has posed as a “silent crisis” within the service, requiring urgent policy action.
Moving the Bill during the third reading, Samuel Atandi Memeber of Parliament for Alego Usonga) highlighted the direct link between mental wellness and public safety.
“The mental wellness of police officers is a national concern. Many tragic incidents reported involving misuse of firearms have roots in untreated mental health challenges.
The bill gives us a framework to address these realities,” Atandi said.
The legislation is viewed as a crucial step in police reforms, providing resources to help officers deal with conditions like Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) encountered in their daily duties and ensuring a measure of humanity is restored in the police sector.
About the Author
