900 police officers set for promotions

President Uhuru Kenyatta awards the best rifle shot recruit Fancy Chepkorir during the Kenya Police passout parade at Kiganjo Police College in Nyeri county on April 4, 2014. 900 police officers set for promotions. Some 968 officers will be interviewed. Panellists will be looking for clean discipline records and managerial skills. PHOTO/FILE

What you need to know:

  • The National Police Service Commission chief executive officer, Mr Ojango Omumu, said the interviews would be conducted by police commanders after which the commissioners would “interrogate the results”.
  • “Promotional boards are under the Inspector General after that the Commissioners would interrogate. At the Commission we would be looking whether results reflect ethnic balance, gender balance as well as the set experience and academic standards,” he said.

Strict guidelines aimed at blocking errant police officers from promotion have been issued ahead of interviews this week.

Some 968 officers will be interviewed. Panellists will be looking for clean discipline records and managerial skills.

Officers lined up for interviews include 468 constables who wish to become corporals, 178 corporals seeking to be sergeants, and 120 sergeants who would be promoted to senior sergeants.

The rank of inspector has attracted 184 senior sergeants.

According to a document seen by the Nation, the officers are drawn from all units of the police.

The National Police Service Commission chief executive officer, Mr Ojango Omumu, said the interviews would be conducted by police commanders after which the commissioners would “interrogate the results”.

VITAL DECISIONS

“Promotional boards are under the Inspector General after that the Commissioners would interrogate. At the Commission we would be looking whether results reflect ethnic balance, gender balance as well as the set experience and academic standards,” he said.

Interview boards that will conduct the interviews are in place ahead of the countrywide exercise.

In the past, promotion of officers in those ranks was the prerogative of the Commissioner of Police.

Those in the higher ranks would be promoted by the Public Service Commission, a task which was often delegated to the Commissioner.

Inspectors normally make vital decisions in the service since station commanders (OCSs) of rural police stations are appointed from this rank.

Chief inspectors command stations in urban centres.

The interviews could raise tension among lower cadres of the police who have since establishment of the NPSC, wanted the Commission to take charge of the interviews.

At present, their line supervisors like Division commanders (OCPDs) conduct the interviews.