You won’t be spared, corrupt officers told

Police officers found to be corrupt and unprofessional will be sacked regardless of their experience or qualifications, Internal Security assistant minister Orwa Ojodeh said on Wednesday.

Those found to have earned promotions but lack skills befitting the ranks and positions they hold would be either retrained or transferred to suitable offices, he said.

Mr Ojodeh explained that no senior police officer would be demoted as a result of the vetting exercise that ended last week.

The assistant minister, however, said those found “unfit” to be law enforcers would be sent home.

That means officers found to be corrupt and unprofessional would leave the service, their experience and training backgrounds notwithstanding.

“We are not moving towards that (demotions). There is no way you can demote an officer and expect them to perform well. They would not work well with their juniors. We want to help good officers to perform,” he said.

The two-week vetting was done by panellists from the Public Service Commission, the National Security Intelligence Service and the Kenya Anti-Corruption Commission.

Officers from the rank of superintendent to deputy commissioner were interviewed across all formations, including regular and Administration Police, General Service Unit and the Criminal Investigations Department.

Those who survive the PSC’s grilling will, however, face a second round of vetting.

Senior officers had expected the second phase to start on Wednesday but Mr Ojodeh said that would be done after the outcome of the initial one was known.

“The actual exercise ended but action (against officers) has not been taken. The files are being perused and we will decide on various actions. Unfit officers will have to leave,” he said.

While the second vetting will concentrate on officers from the rank of assistant commissioner and above, who normally hold senior offices in provincial and national security commands, it will also target some of their juniors.

Officers found culpable in the forthcoming exercise, to be based on secret information gathered against them by the National Security Intelligence Service over the years, are to be kicked out.

The Nation has established that each officer would be required to answer questions on corruption and abuse of office.

The files contain details of officers’ wealth in properties, businesses and bank accounts and they would also have to answer how it was acquired.