Government Appoints Members to Intelligence Service Complaints Board After Six-Year Delay
After six years of delay, the government appoints members to the Intelligence Service Complaints Board, responding to a 2019 High Court order amid looming contempt proceedings.
By John Mtongoi Newsroom
August 24, 2026
2 min read
The Kenyan government has appointed members to the Intelligence Service Complaints Board, more than six years after a High Court mandated its establishment and operationalisation.
In December 2019, Justice Reuben Nyakundi of the Malindi court ordered that the Board be set up within 180 days to provide oversight and handle complaints related to the intelligence services. However, the directive went unimplemented, leading to legal action.
Katiba Institute filed contempt of court proceedings against government officials in November 2025 for failing to comply with the order. The contempt hearing is scheduled for October 5, 2026.
On August 21, 2026, Interior Cabinet Secretary Onesimus Kipchumba Murkomen officially appointed the Board’s chairperson and members through a government Gazette notice, marking a significant step towards compliance.
Implications and Next Steps
- The Board is intended to enhance accountability and oversight within Kenya's intelligence sector by providing a formal mechanism for addressing complaints.
- While the appointment is welcomed as progress, concerns remain about whether the Board will be fully operational and independent to effectively carry out its mandate.
- Katiba Institute emphasized that mere appointments do not satisfy constitutional requirements unless the Board is empowered to function autonomously and transparently.
- The upcoming contempt hearing will assess the State’s adherence to the court order alongside the Board’s operational status.
This development represents a notable shift in a prolonged legal dispute, with the government now taking concrete steps to implement the court-ordered intelligence oversight framework.
