Police panel puts off interviews for bosses

Interviews for top police officials were called off on Tuesday following the exit of some members of a panel overseeing reforms.

The panel interviewing candidates to sit on the National Police Service Commission was unable to continue with the job after its chairman, Mr Omar Hassan Omar, and another member, Mr Okong’o Omogeni, left their nominating organisations.

Mr Omar’s term at the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights (KNCHR), which he represented at the panel, has expired while Mr Omogeni is no longer at the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission.

Questions have been raised as to whether the two were properly in office given that they no longer work for the organisations that they represented in the panel.

The panel has asked the AG whether the two can continue working.

“The selection panel has written to the nominating agencies and the AG and will advise on the new dates of the interviews,” said Mr Omar.

Justice and Constitutional Affairs minister Mutula Kilonzo said the two could not continue sitting on the panel since they were in it as representatives of their nominating agencies.

The nominating bodies should now replace them with new members as required by the law, he said.

The panel started the interviews on Monday with up to 10 candidates slated for vetting each day.

The process was expected to end on Friday when 34 candidates would have been interviewed, out of which five were to be nominated as commissioners.

Inspector general

The interviews for the post of chairman were completed in December and three names are waiting to be forwarded to the President and Prime Minister for appointment.

Other members of the panel are Judicial Service Commission representative Ahmednasir Abdullahi, Internal Security permanent secretary Francis Kimemia, Mr Caroli Omondi from the Prime Minister’s office, Mr Festus Lituku of Association of Professional Societies in East Africa and Ms Lydia Gachoe of National Gender Commission.

Mr Omar’s term at the KNCHR together with that of three other commissioners ended on Monday.

Former KNCHR chairperson Florence Jaoko, who also left office on Monday, confirmed that the commission had discussed the matter since Mr Omar is “technically no longer a member of the panel”.

“Our take as a commission is that Mr Omar should be allowed to finish with the selection of the Police Service Commission chairperson since he was involved in the interviews. Probably after this is done with, the commission can sit and take a decision on the matter,” Ms Jaoko said.

She said that KNCHR agreed on Monday that Commissioner Kipng’etich arap Tororei, who is the vice-chairperson, takes over in an acting capacity until new commissioners are appointed.

Ms Jaoko was appointed to the commission five years ago and relinquished her position alongside Mrs Winfred Lichumba and Ms Wambui Kimathi, after eight years of service.

The National Police Service Commission will take over the management of the affairs of the police, including reviewing all matters relating to standards or qualifications required of members of the service and, with the advice of the Salaries and Remuneration Commission, determine the appropriate remuneration and benefits of officers.

It will also approve applications for engagement in businesses by officers in accordance with the law and provide terms and conditions of service.

The commission will develop fair and clear disciplinary procedures in accordance with Article 47 of the Constitution and investigate and summon witnesses for the purposes of its investigations.

The successful candidates are expected be named when Parliament resumes from recess next month.