Junior police protest at phased pay rise

Disgruntled officers jammed the police communication network in Nairobi on Thursday in protest against a decision to increase their pay in three phases.

Their access to two channels of the network had to be blocked at the central control room following the disruption since Wednesday night, hours after Internal Security minister George Saitoti announced the salary review.

Junior officers received a 28 per cent increase and seniors 25 per cent as the first instalment which will see least paid officers take home Sh21,205 this month, up from Sh18,155.

In some instances, music played on the police walkie talkies after junior officers tampered with the system. Normally, officers use the communication system to give and receive orders.

But police deputy spokesman Charles Wahong’o said: “As far as I’m concerned, it’s working. In case it’s not at any minute or hour, it’s a technical problem that is usually serviced. It should not be taken to mean officers are protesting.”

In other cases, when the system was on, communication turned comical, as some juniors interrupted their seniors. The ‘intruders’ were later shut out.

Normal communication in which all officers with handsets can talk to each other was still barred by Thursday evening. Communication was restricted to that between a caller and the controller.

The pay for the least paid officer was raised from Sh18,155 to Sh34,000 per month, including allowances, but the increase was spread out in three phases.

In Nakuru, police welcomed the increase, saying it will motivate them in their work. Police boss Johnstone Ipara said the pay increase favoured junior officers as they tackled most of the crime incidents.

Additional reporting by Lameck Manani and Elizabeth Wanjiru