Police agency revokes hiring of 1,215 recruits

The recent police recruitment has been cancelled in 36 centres across the country after investigations exposed irregularities.

The nullification, announced on Tuesday by the National Police Service Commission, will affect 1,215 recruits spread in 21 counties.

The investigation followed allegations of widespread bribery in the July 14 recruitment.

The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission, the Independent Police Oversight Authority and other rights groups pointed out the irregularities.

Some 10,000 trainee officers had been recruited. A number of organisations, the oversight authority included, had called for total revocation.

The oversight authority has gone to court to halt the reporting of the officers to training colleges.

Police service commission chairman Johnson Kavuludi, who announced the cancellation, said there would be repeats in the affected centres.

Mr Kavuludi warned that all government officials who engaged in malpractices during the recruitment would be prosecuted for corruption and other professional misconduct.

Officers in charge of Police Divisions took charge of the recruitment committees in the sub-counties in their jurisdiction and were overseen by county police commanders.

TAKE NECESSARY ACTION

“All relevant offices and government agencies will be given the full report to enable them take necessary action against members of the recruitment committees found culpable. In this regard, each institution will take appropriate action against its officers,” Mr Kavuludi said.

He added: “All acts which are criminal in nature, corrupt and indicate professional misconduct will be vigorously pursued and prosecuted and the results made public.”

Annulled results came from 36 recruitment centres, which are basically the sub-county administrative units and formally known as districts, after complaints on how the recruits were picked.

The commission received 621 complaints after the July 14 recruitment carried out in 289 centres countrywide.

“Arising from the nature and issues raised in the complaints, the commission is of the view that some recruitment centres fell short of the standards set and as such the listing in those centres needs to be annulled and a repeat be undertaken,” Mr Kavuludi said.

The police were assisted by officials from National Intelligence Service, Education, Health and Interior ministries.

Mr Kavuludi referred to an audit conducted following the outcry that the hiring was marred by corruption, nepotism, tribalism, gender discrimination and political interference.

The investigators were drawn from the intelligence service, the anti-corruption commission, the Interior Ministry and the Directorate of Criminal Investigations.

The oversight authority went to court last week, and among other issues, asked that senior officers be surcharged for misuse of public funds over the disputed recruitment. The authority further sought the entire cancellation of the recruitment.

It also requested that the Kenya National Audit Office “carry out an audit of the funds used during the recruitment and those found to have misused public funds to be held personally liable and be surcharged accordingly.”

The matter is pending before Lady Justice Mumbi Ngugi of the High Court.

The court ordered that the recruits should not be given admission letters until the case was heard and determined.

The recruits were scheduled to report to police training colleges on October 3.

AFFECTED CENTRES
Among the areas where results were cancelled were four centres in Murang’a County.

They are Gatanga Primary School, Kandara stadium, Kangema General Kago and Kigumo Bandera Secondary School.

Tana River District headquarters (Tana River), Mandera North Youth Centre Rhamu police station (Mandera), Merti (Isiolo), Kinoru stadium (Meru), Nguthiru stadium (Meru), Umau in Mbeere (Embu) and Njabini, Kinangop (Nyandarua).

Others are Engineer Centre (Nyandarua), Othaya Stadium (Nyeri), Kapenguria Police Divisional headquarters (West Pokot), DC’s office Chepkorio, Chesoi Primary School (Elgeyo Marakwet), Moi Girls School (Elgeyo Marakwet), Kapsabet parade ground (Nandi), Maraba (Nandi), Eldama Ravine (Baringo), Mogotio (Baringo), Doldol trading centre (Laikipia), DCs office Bahati (Nakuru), Njoro police station (Nakuru), and Narok stadium (Narok).

Ololulunga baraza park (Narok), Maasai Technical School, DCs office Mashuru (Kajiado), Kipekelion centre (Kericho), Bomet centre (Bomet), DC’s office (Bomet), Isanjiro Primary School (Kakamega), Kimilili Amtala sports centre (Bungoma) and Amagoro Primary School (Busia).