Police bosses still in office despite sack

Five senior police officers who were sent home by the vetting board are still in office.

The Nation has learnt that Inspector General of Police David Kimaiyo has ignored orders from the vetting panel to send the officers home.

In addition, his office has refused to provide information to the panel chaired by National Police Service Commission chief Johnson Kavuludi for the next phase of vetting.

Mr Francis Omondi Okonya, Mr Jonathan Kipkurui Koskei and Mr Peter Elaini Eregae were found not suitable and competent to be retained in the service while Mr Philip Tuimur and Mr Eusebius Laibuta were retired.

Mr Tuimur claims that he has not received his retirement letter while Mr Laibuta says that he had appealed against the decision.

The commission has directed that those who appeal should vacate their offices pending determination of their cases.

However, Mr Kimaiyo has ignored the directives.

POWERS TO VET

His deputy, Ms Grace Kaindi, has also instructed junior officers not to furnish the panel with information on officers to be vetted in the next round.

According to several letters seen by the Nation, on January 28, for example, Commission CEO Ojango Omumu wrote to Ms Kaindi requesting for the records of all officers who had attended training outside the country between January 2010 and December 2013.

The commission clearly indicated to Ms Kaindi that the NPSC Act gave it powers to gather relevant information and to compel the production of such information as and when necessary in order to carry out the vetting.

“The information received will be used for administrative purposes only and shall be treated as confidential,” read part of the letter.

However, on February 2, Ms Kaindi instructed the Director of Training, Mr David Birech, to only acknowledge receipt of the letter but not to give the information requested.

Following the instructions, Mr Birech wrote back to the commission with a brief note: “I have been directed to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated January 28.”

The next round of vetting is scheduled for February 28.

The commission also wrote to Mr Kimaiyo directing him to have the officers vacate office but in vain.

In one of the letters, the commission tells Mr Kimaiyo that the officers should immediately vacate their offices.

“For avoidance of doubt, I am directed to inform you that the officers stand removed from the service with effect from January 22 and should immediately vacate their offices,” the letter says.

In another letter dated January 23, the commission directed Mr Kimaiyo to immediately “implement the decisions of the commission” with effect from January 22. The officers are still working.

In a letter dated February 3, Mr Francis Omondi Okonya planned a meeting with Assistant Commissioners of Police at the CID Pavilion on Tuesday this week but on Monday, he wrote to them informing them that the meeting had been cancelled “until further notice”.

The vetting was meant to clean up the police force which has been listed as the most corrupt institution in Kenya by many surveys.

CONDUCT UNBECOMING

When he appeared before the panel, Mr Okonya could not account for millions of shillings deposited in his account. He was also interviewed in camera over the manner in which he handled an investigation involving top government officials.

He went to court and was reinstated but later told to appeal. The commission said that until his appeal is heard, he should be out of the office.

Mr Koskei was questioned over cash deposited in his account by athlete David Rudisha and other unknown sources.

Mr Eregai had remained out of service for over two years but continued drawing his pay.

Mr Tuimur was accused of failing to follow instructions, including refusing to vacate a police house at the GSU headquarters even after he was transferred.

Mr Laibuta was accused of misappropriation of funds at the police staff college and inability to account for millions of shillings in his account.