Major changes to take place in police service
What you need to know:
- During the October African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights session in Gambia, the Police Service was asked to submit a report detailing involvement in killings and disappearance of terrorism suspects.
- Of interest will be the manner in which Inspector-General of Police Joseph Boinnet will work with the legal fraternity in upholding rights while maintaining law and order.
Next year will see major changes in the security sector as Commissioner-General of Prisons Isaiah Osugo retires.
At the same time, the Kenya Police — the bedrock of law enforcement — is yet to get a substantive commander. Mr Joel Kitili, who was picked to head the force after the removal of Ms Grace Kaindi, is still in acting capacity.
He is yet to don the uniform of the Deputy Inspector-General of Police but still wears the fatigues of the General Service Unit from where President Uhuru Kenyatta picked him.
Sources within security circles say Mr Kitili is the President’s choice for Mr Osugo’s replacement. However, a legal hurdle prevents Mr Kenyatta from making the appointment.
A Bill passed by MPs seeks to amend a number of laws so that the President will have powers to appoint and dismiss police chiefs at will. The posts in question are deputy inspectors-general of police and the Director of Criminal Investigations.
A requirement that one of the top three officers — Inspector-General and two deputies — should be of either gender has been done away with. The law is yet to be enacted.
At present, the powers to recruit deputy inspectors-general are vested in the National Police Service Commission, chaired by Mr Johnstone Kavuludi. The President only has the powers to appoint the top officers recommended by NPSC.
Police reforms also gathered momentum. Nearly 100 senior officers were discharged from duty after vetting by the NPSC.
The biggest casualty was Mr Francis Okonya, who was technically number five in the force’s hierarchy. Also dismissed was Police Spokesman Masood Mwinyi.
The office of the President, under which the Interior ministry falls, used more than Sh10 billion to establish a national command centre. The project also involved mounting CCTV cameras on major streets and public places in Nairobi.
Veteran administrator Mohammed Saleh was appointed regional coordinator of terror attack-prone northeast Kenya.
As security stabilised in the last quarter of the year, senior officers cited the changes initiated as vital in guaranteeing the safety of Kenyans.
According to Interior and Coordination of National Government Cabinet Secretary Joseph Nkaissery, sustained security resulted in the country hosting high profile global leaders and conferences.
Of interest will be the manner in which Inspector-General of Police Joseph Boinnet will work with the legal fraternity in upholding rights while maintaining law and order.
Kenya remains in the bad books of rights defenders following claims of disappearances and extrajudicial killings.
During the October African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights session in Gambia, the Police Service was asked to submit a report detailing involvement in killings and disappearance of terrorism suspects.
The Truth Justice and Reconciliation Commission documented 12,756 victims of torture and 6,095 victims of unlawful detention.
The National Coroners Service Bill, which is awaiting Cabinet and Parliamentary approval may also be enacted in 2016.
Attorney-General Githu Muigai said the Bill would provide a legal framework for reporting, investigating and documenting “unnatural” deaths. Coroners will be tasked with giving full and complete records of deaths to the police, courts, spouses or other interested parties upon request.
