Specialised police unit to be vetted

What you need to know:

  • The entire lot at the Internal Affairs Unit will be grilled on the same scale irrespective of rank.

Members of a special police unit that unearthed the alleged cover-up in a fatal car crash involving Pastor James Ng’ang’a will be vetted on Thursday.

The entire lot at the Internal Affairs Unit will be grilled on the same scale irrespective of rank because they play a vital role in policing their colleagues, according to National Police Service Commission chairman Johnston Kavuludi.

The unit is a creation of new laws aimed at reforming the police service.

Its biggest achievement so far is exposing the traffic police officers who handled the road accident, in which a woman died.

Following the exposé, Pastor Ng’ang’a has been charged with four criminal offences. Two police officers were charged alongside him.

“After they are vetted and found suitable, we shall use them for the purpose of examining records of all other officers from the rank of chief inspector and below,” Mr Kavuludi said.

VETTED SENIOR OFFICERS

The unit was established last year under the National Police Service Act. There are plans to establish its offices in the 47 counties.

The law mandates the unit to “receive and investigate complaints against the police, promote uniform standards of discipline and good order in the service and keep a record of the facts of any complaint or investigation made to it”.

It is headed by Assistant Inspector-General Leo Nyongesa.

So far, the commission has vetted senior officers of the rank of assistant superintendent and above.

Some were sent home after they were found unsuitable to continue serving while others are awaiting results.

The next batch of officers to be vetted are chief inspectors, who usually hold influential offices in the service, especially as station commanders.