Unfit police officers to go, says minister

Pending reform laws will not stop the government from sending home non-performing police officers, Internal Security assistant minister Orwa Ojodeh has said.

He was referring to the vetting of police officers that has been put off until laws are in place to establish the Police Service Commission and the National Police Service.

“If during assessment you score zero then you have to go home. Assessment and evaluation of officers is not being done for the first time.

“It’s done year in, year out and includes all officers in Internal Security (ministry),” Mr Ojodeh said on Tuesday.

Panellists from the Public Service Commission, Kenya Anti-Corruption Commission and National Intelligence Service interviewed 1,114 senior police officers last month with the aim of retiring those found to be unfit.

PSC chairman Titus Gateere announced they would be sent home with all their retirement benefits, as outlined in the Ransley report on police reforms.

“This is not the so-called vetting. That will come later and it will be done by the Police Service Commission,” Mr Ojodeh said.

The Ransley report, adopted by the government to guide reforms, recommended that senior officers from the rank of assistant commissioner be “subjected to a review against a criteria (sic) on professionalism, integrity, track record and psychological fitness.”

It proposed the criteria be developed by KACC, NSIS and the PSC.

“The ranks below can thereafter be progressively reviewed by the proposed Police Service Commission until all officers are cleared,” the report reads in part.