Kibaki, Raila told to appoint police chief
Commission on Implementation of the Constitution (CIC) chairman Charles Nyachae said anyone could petition the courts that Police Commissioner Mathew Iteere was in office illegally and should be removed. Photo/FILE
What you need to know:
- The Third Schedule of the National Police Service Act guides on the appointment of an inspector general of police and his two deputies and does not require the police commissioner.
- the Constitution and the National Police Service Act were clear that the police should be under an inspector general.
- Anne Ngugi said police reforms formed key recommendations of the Kriegler and Waki and other such commissions
A commission has advised President Kibaki and Prime Minister Raila Odinga to appoint an inspector general of police with immediate effect.
Commission on Implementation of the Constitution (CIC) chairman Charles Nyachae said anyone could petition the courts that Police Commissioner Mathew Iteere was in office illegally and should be removed.
He said the Constitution and the National Police Service Act were clear that the police should be under an inspector general.
“Constitutionally, a person who is not an inspector general cannot be in command of the Kenya Police Service. If anyone moves to court, then the police commissioner could lose his job,” he said.
Mr Nyachae said CIC had written several letters to the two principals and wondered why they had failed to appoint an inspector general as provided for in the Constitution.
The Third Schedule of the National Police Service Act guides on the appointment of an inspector general of police and his two deputies and does not require the police commissioner.
Former chairman of the panel to recruit members of the National Police Commission Hassan Omar Hassan said there were plans by the government to go into the elections, without a professional, reformed police service.
He called for caution, saying that police played a critical role in the bungled 2007 presidential election, and the same could be repeated if reforms are not implemented.
Human Rights commissioner Anne Ngugi said police reforms formed key recommendations of the Kriegler and Waki and other such commissions that investigated the causes of the 2008 post-poll chaos.
