Vetting of OCPDs, deputies in North Eastern Kenya begins

NAIROBI: Vetting of all top police officers in North Eastern region, started in Garissa Town Tuesday.

Officers in the ranks of OCPD, their deputies and AP commanders of the rank of Senior Superintendent of Police and Superintendent of Police are to face the National Police Service Commission (NPSC).

The delay in finishing the exercise has slowed planned changes in the service and Monday, NPSC Chairman Johnston Kavuludi said they intend to finish the exercise by Thursday. “We are meeting the officers to prepare them for the exercise before we start the real vetting,” he told The Standard on phone.

He visited Garissa Governor Nathif Jama before meeting those to be vetted. The vetting of officers of the rank of Chief Inspector and Inspector is scheduled to begin from end of this month in Nairobi. The officers are being questioned on their suitability to be in office. The commission says vetting is mandatory for all officers.

The applicable vetting standards included officer’s satisfaction of entry and training requirements, their professional conduct and discipline, integrity and financial probity, and respect for human rights.

Officers who satisfy the Commission with regard to competence and suitability will be retained and those who do not will be sacked.

So far more than 4,000 officers have been vetted and less than 20 have been sacked. The exercise has been facing resistance from some officers who fear they may be affected.

Vetting of police officers was among the more than 200 proposals of a commission set up following the 2007-2008 post election violence.