Rule promoting ethics requires officers to declare wealth
Police recruits march during the pass out parade at Kiganjo Training College in Nyeri County March 3, 2017. Recruits are required to declare their wealth within 30 days. PHOTO | JOSEPH KANYI | NATION MEDIA GROUP
What you need to know:
- Transparency International has consistently listed the Kenya Police as the most corrupt government institution.
- The code also bars the police from bullying and harassing of citizens and other state officers.
Police officers leaving the service will be required to declare their wealth and sources of income in a new rule by the commission aimed at curbing graft in the force.
The declaration will also be made mandatory for officers joining the service.
It will include sources of income and assets, according to the newly gazetted Leadership and Integrity Code for state officers in the National Police Service Commission.
The commission says the declaration, which will be submitted 30 days upon leaving or assuming office, will be made accessible, not only to the commission, but also to the general public and any other person interested for scrutiny and accountability, the notice published on Friday says.
Transparency International has consistently listed the Kenya Police as the most corrupt government institution.
In the 2015 Corruption Perception Index, Kenya was listed at 139 out of 168 countries. It scored 25 marks out of a possible 100.
In the Friday gazette notice, the code also prohibits officers from participating in other forms of employment other than the service, receiving gifts in monetary value, reporting improper orders and acting through others for official and non-official duties.
“Accordingly, the state officer shall not use his or her office to unlawfully or wrongfully enrich himself or herself or any other person.
"Subject to Article 76 of the Constitution, a state officer shall not accept a personal loan or benefit which may compromise the state officer in carrying out his or her duties,” says the commission.
It adds: “This code may be cited as the Leadership and Integrity Code for State Officers in the National Police Service Commission and the National Police Service and shall commence upon publication.”
The police have been perceived the most corrupt state officers in the country with a majority accused of soliciting bribes and amassing enormous wealth in the process, according to graft reports and anti-corruption activist and whistle-blower John Githongo.
A report by research institution, Institute of Development Studies in 2015, revealed that some 75 per cent of Kenyans perceived police as the most corrupt followed by government officials.
The code also bars the police from bullying and harassing of citizens and other state officers, engaging in private business during official working hours, as well as acquisition of dual citizenship.
