Team pushes for merger of regular and AP units
What you need to know:
- Move will be contrary to advice of Ransley taskforce on police reforms
Officials discussing the National Police Service Bill 2010 are pushing to merge the regular and Administration Police, contrary to recommendations of the National Taskforce on Police Reforms.
The officials from the Kenya Police, Administration Police and the Police Reforms Implementation Committee are yet to agree on ranks despite recommendations by the Justice (Rtd) Philip Ransley’s taskforce.
A proposal by the Police Reforms Implementation Committee to abolish three senior ranks as recommended by the taskforce on police reforms has caused panic in the force.
Under the recommendations, the ranks of senior deputy commissioner of police II (SDCP II), deputy commissioner of police (DCP) and senior assistant commissioner of police (SACP) are to be abolished from the Kenya Police structural organisation.
Contrary to the recommendations of the Ransley-led National Task Force on Police Reforms where the Kenya Police Service would be led by an Inspector General while the Administration Police would be led by a Commandant General, the committee has recommended that the overall head of the National Police Service will be an Inspector General.
He will be assisted by a Deputy Inspector General in charge of the Kenya Police Service and a Deputy Inspector General in charge of Administration Police Service.
Both services will have Assistant Inspector Generals in charge of training, General Service Unit, Operations and Directorate of Criminal Investigations under the Police Service and Assistant Inspector General in charge of operations, training and administration and personnel in the AP service.
Provincial police commissioners and provincial administration police commandants will be in charge of the provincial commands in their respective provinces.
Other ranks including senior superintendent of police (SSP), superintendent of police (SP), chief inspector, inspector, sergeant, corporal and constable will remain the same.
“The vetting of senior police officers will be discussed soon,” a senior security official said.
