The High Court has mandated that the Inspector General of Police ensure officers display their identity clearly during demonstrations.
The court has ordered that police officers must wear name tags and prominently display their service numbers as part of their uniforms.
This ruling comes after the Law Society of Kenya (LSK) filed an urgent petition, arguing that the lack of identifiable police officers undermines accountability within the national police service.
The court documents specify that, pending further hearings, only uniformed officers who are clearly identifiable should be deployed to assist protesters in exercising their rights under Article 37 of the Constitution.
Faith Odhiambo, President of the LSK, emphasized the need for accountability for police officers who assault peaceful demonstrators.
She noted that the LSK has been vocal in condemning police brutality, including arrests and forced disappearances, during recent anti-government protests.
The LSK has also called for the unconditional release of all protesters detained by the police. Odhiambo reported difficulties in negotiating bail and bond terms for detainees, and mentioned that she personally faced violence from a police officer during these efforts.
Recent figures from the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights (KNCHR) indicate that 66 protesters are missing and 60 people died during the recent protests.