By Kepher Otieno - Reporter
Kenya, 23 June 2026 - Former police spokesperson Charles Owino has been reappointed as the official spokesperson of the Kenya Police Service, marking a return to a role that previously placed him at the centre of the country’s most sensitive security communications.
The move restores one of the most familiar voices in Kenya’s policing history to the public-facing arm of the National Police Service at a time of heightened scrutiny over law enforcement conduct, public protests, and institutional accountability.
Owino rose through the ranks of police communication structures to become the National Police Service spokesperson, a position in which he handled some of the most politically and security-sensitive briefings in recent Kenyan history. His tenure covered periods of electoral tension, terrorism incidents, and widespread public demonstrations, requiring frequent explanations of police operations and use-of-force decisions.
He became widely known for his firm defence of institutional actions and his structured, often technical communication style. This positioned him as a central figure in shaping how the state framed security operations during moments of national crisis, particularly around elections and major public order incidents.
Beyond police communication, Owino later transitioned into governance and public administration roles. In 2023, he was appointed chairperson of the Council of the Kenya Institute of Mass Communication (KIMC), a key government training institution for journalists and media professionals. The appointment reflected confidence in his experience at the intersection of media, state communication, and public information systems.
His engagement at KIMC placed him in a broader policy environment focused on shaping media training, professional standards, and communication ethics in Kenya. It also signalled a shift from operational police messaging to a more institutional role within the country’s information and communication ecosystem.
Owino has also previously expressed political ambition, including interest in the Siaya gubernatorial race during the 2022 election cycle, before stepping back from the contest. This period highlighted his intermittent movement between public communication roles, governance appointments, and political exploration.
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His reappointment as police spokesperson now brings him back into the front line of national communication at a time when public debate over policing standards, demonstrations, and accountability mechanisms remains intense. The role places him at the centre of how the security establishment communicates with citizens, media, and political actors.
The Kenya Police Service has in recent years faced growing pressure to improve transparency, particularly in handling protest-related incidents and allegations of excessive force. Communication has become a critical battlefield in shaping public trust, with every official statement closely scrutinised and amplified across traditional and digital platforms.
Owino’s return is widely seen as an attempt by the security leadership to reintroduce an experienced and familiar communicator capable of navigating these pressures. His deep institutional background within policing and prior experience managing national crises are expected to define his approach in the new role.
The appointment signals a broader communications reset within the police service, as it seeks to balance operational confidentiality with increasing demands for openness and accountability in a rapidly evolving media and political environment.