Abstract:
The aim of this study was to investigate the application of Public Relations (PR)
Strategies in the Police Service in Kenya. The problem that prompted this study was that
of widespread public perception of the Service as corrupt, inconsiderate and brutal with
very poor people relations. Yet, the National Police Service is also on record as having
instituted a lot of reforms, especially since the promulgation of the Kenya Constitution
2010. Academically, it has not been established through research what the police officers
know about PR and how they apply that knowledge. Therefore, the specific research
questions the study sought to investigate were on the Public Relations (PR) strategies
used by the officers within the police service in Kenya; the issues that determine the
knowledge of PR and its use by the officers within the police service; The challenges the
police encounter while implementing their PR strategies? and finally how key
stakeholders perceive Public Relations practices by the officers in the police service. The
study adopted the Qualitative Case study methodology and interviews were used for data
generation from one police division in Kenya. Data were analysed thematically and
relevant ethical concerns especially anonymity and confidentiality were upheld. The
findings of this research show that client –information and media publicity are the main
strategies used within the Kenya National police service; that the on-going reforms and
capacity building are the among the key issues that determine the knowledge of PR and
its application among the police service; key stakeholders overwhelmingly perceive the
police as being very poor in PR. However, issues like the entrenched traditional approach
to police training and the lack of capacity building are main hindrances to progress to the
practice of Public Relations. Successful law enforcement is heavily dependent on the
people’s willingness to report crimes, to call for help, to report suspicious activities and
to serve as a witness or informant. The police need to be able to elicit such types of
cooperation from citizens in order to effectively and efficiently control crime and secure
people’s safety.
