Agencies infighting crippling operations
What you need to know:
- The roles of Ipoa and NPSC overlap.
- Kimaiyo and Kavuludi clashed over decisions.
Police officers fear that lack of a clear command structure is affecting their performance.
Officers interviewed by the Nation said the formation of the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (Ipoa), headed by Mr Macharia Njeru, and the National Police Service Commission (NPSC) headed by Mr Johnstone Kavuludi, which run parallel to the office of the Inspector General of Police, is causing misunderstanding.
“The idea of forming the two bodies … was good but there is no clear working formula on how the three organs operate and relate,” an officer said.
The work of Ipoa is to oversee the general police work including adherence to the law while the NPSC is a human resource arm.
Former Inspector-General of Police David Kimaiyo and Mr Kavuludi had clashed over some decisions made by either of them.
“These two bodies — Ipoa and NPSC — sometimes contradict commands by the Inspector General of Police especially on transfers and operations,” another officer said.
The roles of both agencies also overlap.
Ipoa was created to investigate disciplinary or criminal complaints against any member of the service. It is also tasked with making recommendations on prosecution, compensation or internal disciplinary matters. Members of the police service are also allowed to file complaints against their bosses.
On the other hand, NPSC is also allowed to receive similar complains, especially on discipline and transfers.
“The two authorities cannot run parallel. They clash especially on transfers and dismissals. That is why you find the vetting of police officers done by NPSC is failing because the officers appeal when they are sacked for corruption,” the officer said.
Another issue causing confusion is where the office of the Directorate of Criminal Investigations is supposed to fall.
Under the National Police Service Act, the offices of the two Deputy IGs in charge of the Kenya Police Service and the Administration Police are well structured.
The DCI’s mode of recruitment is not clear. It is also not clear whether the unit should recruit from police colleges, the Kenya Police Service or the Administration Police.
