24 top officers set to lose their jobs
Administration Police women march past the presidential dias during the 46th Madaraka celebrations at the Nyayo stadium. At least 24 senior police officers are to be dropped from the top police command as part of the planned reforms in the security agency. PHOTO/ HEZRON NJOROGE
What you need to know:
- Merging of APs and regular units will also trim leadership
At least 24 senior police officers are to be dropped from the top police command as part of the planned reforms in the security agency.
These are part of a wide range of proposals that would see the force transformed into the Kenya Police Service.
The restructured command would leave only six senior officers reporting directly to the police boss instead of the more than 30 at present.
“The Police Reforms Task Force was constituted to drive the process of transforming our police force into a police service,” President Kibaki said during Monday’s Madaraka Day celebrations.
The team of experts headed by retired judge Philip Ransley is scheduled to meet senior officers from the Administration and regular police this week.
Ahead of the discussions, Vigilance House has prepared a document titled: “Kenya Police Reforms Framework” in which it proposes the roadmap for a revamped law enforcement agency.
The two policing agencies have sharply differed over a proposal to merge their operations, with the APs preferring to maintain the status quo.
The proposed merger notwithstanding, the regular police headquarters has agreed that some specialised units under the force be combined, culminating in the lean command at the top.
This would see independent units like the Anti Stock Theft Unit and the Anti-Terrorism Police Unit brought under the General Service Unit.
The Flying squad and the Special Crime Prevention Unit would be combined and their bases spread out in Nairobi, Mombasa Urban, Nakuru, Eldoret and Kisumu.
Among other reforms, re-organising the structure of command is meant to give the police boss ample time to concentrate on policy matters, leaving field commanders to oversee the technical work.
The revamped law enforcement agency would be headed by an Inspector General enjoying security of tenure just like the Chief Justice.
Unlike today
The holder of the office would also be the chief accounting officer unlike today, where the force is a department within the Internal Security and Provincial Administration ministry with a permanent secretary as the accounting officer.
A deputy Inspector General will be second in command, unlike today when the police chief is deputised by several commanders.
