150 top police officers to go home
Senior police officers in Mandera County after the Rhamu attack in which several people lost their lives. PHOTO | WILLIAM OERI |
What you need to know:
- The positions are held by 196 officers serving in various capacities in different police units across the country.
- Only a few of them will be recommended for redeployment in other government departments.
Nearly 150 senior officers are to be forced out of the National Police Service because the positions they hold were abolished.
The ranks are senior deputy commissioner, deputy commissioner, senior assistant commissioner and assistant commissioner.
These positions are held by 196 officers serving in various capacities in different police units across the country.
The National Police Service Commission (NPSC), which is chaired by Mr Johnston Kavuludi, introduced the ranks of senior assistant inspector-general (SAIG) and assistant inspector-general (AIG), which were gazetted three months ago.
According to sources within the commission, there are between six and 10 slots available for the SAIG.
Available slots for the AIG are less than 30, meaning the bulk of senior officers will be sent home.
Only a few of them will be recommended for redeployment in other government departments.
There is also the unlikely situation that some senior officers would be content with a demotion, but that is a prerogative of the commission depending on the officers' CVs.
The shortlist for the new positions was made weeks ago and has been gathering dust, awaiting confirmation by the full sitting of the NPSC.
NPSC has not held a full sitting recently because some of the commissioners are not available for sittings.
INTERVIEWS
The Nation further established that when the commission started vetting senior officers last year, it was, at the same time, conducting interviews “silently”.
The commission felt that the big number of officers in senior management positions is untenable and should, therefore, be reduced.
It is on the basis of these interviews that many officers will be forced out, in spite of having passed the vetting.
The vetting began last year with the aim of sending home officers found to be corrupt and unprofessional and those who violated human rights in discharging their duties.
Individual officers were also scrutinised over their financial probity, academic qualifications and efficiency, among other things.
Only 16 police officers have been sent home after the commission raised queries during the vetting about their suitability to serve.
