Kavuludi team to start vetting traffic police in 6 counties

National Police Service Commission chairman Johnston Kavuludi addressing journalists at the Eastern region police headquarters in Embu County on April 18, 2017. PHOTO | CHARLES WANYORO | NATION MEDIA GROUP

What you need to know:

  • Mr Kavuludi expressed concern that police officers who have been vetted and found suitable to serve are now engaging in corruption.
  • Rise in corrupt activities by traffic police officers has compromised safety on the roads.

The National Police Service Commission (NPSC) will from Wednesday start vetting 90 traffic police officers based in six counties of the upper eastern region.

The vetting will take place at the School of Government in Embu. Officers working in Embu, Meru, Tharaka-Nithi, Isiolo and Marsabit will be quizzed.

Unlike in the past, sessions in the five-day exercise will be held behind closed doors, with the public and the media locked out.

NPSC chairman Johnston Kavuludi said the presence of the public and the media would compromise security as the country approaches the August 8 elections.

CORRUPTION

“As we go towards elections, and as the country settles and focuses on the [polls], there are certain serious security concerns that may arise in the cause of vetting which may be compromised by having members of public. We will not even have the media covering it,” he said.

He spoke at the eastern region police headquarters after paying a courtesy call on the regional police boss.

Mr Kavuludi expressed concern that police officers who had been vetted and found suitable to serve were now engaging in corruption.

He claimed the officers are now asking for money openly in the full glare of the public.

ROADS

He said the rise in corrupt activities among traffic police officers has compromised safety on the roads and led to the public losing faith in the vetting process.

“Members of the public are now getting concerned that police officers who had been found suitable to be retained, seem to have developed a greater appetite for money and now demand it openly. Many motorists think that traffic police are there to just extort,” said Mr Kavuludi.

He defended the vetting process, saying despite its teething problems, they had identified many police officers with special training and talent that initially were not recognised.