1. Reassembling the Kenyan Security Sector: The Role of Civil Society Organizations in Security Governance Bernard Musembi Kilaka Maseno University

2. Working Questions 1.How has security sector reforms been conceptualized at the global level? 2.How has security sector reforms in Kenya been assembled? 3.What is the contribution of Kenyan CSOs to the SSR process in the country? 4.What is the nature of the relationship between the state and CSOs? 5.To what extent are Kenyan CSOs capable of participating in both the SSR process and security governance?

3. Background: Why Police Reforms? Reforms initiatives in post-PEV Kenya Role during the post election election-violence of 2007 Regime preservation roles by the police History of impunity and gross violation of human rights Corruption

4. Theoretical Framework Global Security Assemblages Theory (Rita Abrahamsen and Michael Williams, 2011) Gilles Deleuze (1968) social formations as assemblages of complex configurations.

5. Data Collection 1.Interviews- Semi- structured 2.Participant observation

6. Findings: SSR (Police Reforms) in Kenya 1.Vetting process of police all police officers 2.Establishment of new institutions (NPSC, IPOA and IG) 3.Strengthening the capacity of actors involved in security governance 4.Symbolic changes-Name change from Kenya Police Force to Kenya Police Service

7. 2. CSOs and SSR in Kenya 1. Vetting process of police officers Vetting tools, urging public to be involved, observer status, 2. Civic education and enhancing local ownership of SSR 3. Advocacy and watchdog functions

8. 3. Nature of relationship btwn CSOs and Government Confrontational with the executive and police Collaborative with the statutory oversight bodies i.e. NPSC, IPOA, KNHRC

9. Challenges to police reforms Lack of political will Corruption Institutional challenges Security challenges Lack of public participation

10. Challenges that CSOs face Fears over personal security Ostracization by the state Lack of reliable sources of funding Lack of security expertise Loss of experienced members to the government New members with no passion for CSOs agendas

11. Conclusion The study established that there is a general acceptance of CSOs participation in security governance. However, their involvement has mainly been on the ‘soft issues’ such as civic education on police reforms and human rights trainings.