Police shake-up plan as Kavuludi team gets down to work

PHOTO | FILE Police Service Commission chairman Johnston Kavuludi takes the oath of office. He has promised sweeping changes in the police service.

What you need to know:

  • The commission is receiving applications for the posts of Inspector-General of Police and two deputies; one in charge of Kenya Police Service and the other to head Administration Police Service
  • The upcoming vetting will shake up the police top brass as it targets more than 250 senior police officers
  • Names of shortlisted candidates will be published in local newspapers and the public invited to give information about the integrity of the applicants

The new Police Service Commission is expected to make changes to the force command as it takes charge of the crucial phase of reforming the department.

The commission is receiving applications for the posts of Inspector-General of Police and two deputies; one in charge of Kenya Police Service and the other to head Administration Police Service.

The AP and Kenya Police services will fall under one command with the introduction of new ranks that carry independent mandates and powers.

The current Kenya Police is headed by police commissioner Mathew Iteere while Samuel Arachi is the AP commandant.

But it is the upcoming vetting that will shake up the police top brass as it targets more than 250 senior police officers. Those found unfit to serve will be forced out or be demoted and redeployed.

“That’s a process we shall undertake when we come up with a very lucid work programme. It’s not a matter that should threaten any senior police officer. And since we are looking at the scale of those officers, their integrity, considering their competencies, it is inevitable that some of them may not necessarily remain in the service,” said the commission’s chairman, Mr Johnston Kavuludi.

“But that’s not our objective. Our objective is to utilise the existing manpower,” Mr Kavuludi added.

Clean service

But the chairman of the Independent Police Oversight Authority, Mr Macharia Njeru, was categorical.

“Anybody fearing the vetting should not even wait for it. They should just leave because Kenyans want a clean service,” he said.

The “clean-up” is supported by Section 7 of the National Police Service Act, which says: “The commission shall discontinue the service of any police officer who fails in the vetting.”

Mr Kavuludi said police reforms would be guided by the Philip Ransley report — the blueprint adopted by the government to steer the process. The appointment of the IG will complete installation of the main pillars required for police reforms.

“The key institutions are the PSC, the Ipoa and office of the IG. To complete the reforms we must have the IG. The quality of the applicant is of utmost importance, whether the successful candidate will be a police officer or a civilian with no policing background. We are coming from a past that Kenyans have not been happy with,” Mr Njeru said.

Submit applications

Mr Kavuludi was sworn in alongside five other commissioners last week. The commission has given Kenyans interested in heading the police services up to October 29 to submit applications. The new commanders are expected to be in office by December.

“The position of Inspector General is open to all Kenyans – those in the police service as well as those outside the police service. The deputies positions are confined to those who have served or are serving in the police for at least 15 years at the rank of superintendent and above,” Mr Kavuludi said.

Names of shortlisted candidates will be published in local newspapers and the public invited to give information about the integrity of the applicants.

Those adversely mentioned will be given an opportunity to defend themselves.

“We shall urgently start the process of recruiting additional police officers so that the electoral commission is better prepared in planning and executing the 2013 elections,” Mr Kavuludi added.

The commission is also set to advertise for the position of director of the Criminal Investigations Department, which is currently headed by Mr Ndegwa Muhoro.