Police faces suit over Sh1,000 Utumishi Academy ‘donation’
Police officers maintain security outside the Supreme Court of Kenya on September 20, 2017. Some of the 60,000 officers plan to file a case in the High Court to challenge a Sh1,000 deduction from their salaries towards construction of a girls secondary school to be sponsored by the National Police Service. PHOTO | EVANS HABIL | NATION MEDIA GROUP
What you need to know:
The disgruntled officers reacted angrily after they were informed of the deduction.
The money is to fund the building of two classrooms, a dormitory, kitchen and administration block of the new school, next to Utumishi Boys Academy in Nakuru County.
Some of the 60,000 police officers plan to file a case in the High Court to challenge a Sh1,000 deduction from their salaries towards construction of a girls secondary school to be sponsored by the National Police Service.
In a message shared among themselves that was seen by the Nation, the disgruntled officers questioned why their seniors did not consult them.
“A project of over Sh60 million is not a village cattle dip project to handle like that,” reads one message.
The matter was discussed at Vigilance House during the Form One selection for Utumishi Boys Academy and a signal sent to police commanders.
The disgruntled officers reacted angrily after they were informed of the deduction.
The money is to fund the building of two classrooms, a dormitory, kitchen and administration block of the new school, next to Utumishi Boys Academy in Nakuru County.
RAISE MONEY
The idea has backfired, however, with officers of various ranks planning to raise money to hire a lawyer to sue.
Opponents of the project have urged their colleagues to mobilise themselves to “say No” to the ‘donation’.
“To this effect, we shall come up with a Pay Bill No. for officers who are opposed to the idea to cater for legal fees to ensure our rights as employees of the National Police Service are strictly observed,” adds the message.
They further indicated that they will find ways of raising their concerns with the National Police Service Commission (NPSC) before seeking legal redress over the matter.
They said they were not consulted over the idea.
CHECK-OFF
“More importantly is the question of who is in control of officer pay that can effect such check-off system without individual officers’ approval,” reads the text message. “By this message, a warning is sounded to any person who shall be party to the planned deductions that let them be prepared for a protracted legal battle that may leave them financially injured.”
Many serving and retired police officers who contributed millions of shillings towards the construction of Utumishi Boys Academy in early 1980s are opposed to the new project.
This is after a promise that their children would get preference to join the prestigious school never materialised as the school became the preserve of senior officers and tycoons.
