National Police Service Commission annuls recruitment results in 36 centres

National Police Service Commission Chair Johnston Kavuludi.

Kenya: Police recruitment in 36 centres has been nullified following claims of irregularities affecting 1,215 recruits.

The National Police Service Commission (NPSC) announced the exercise will be repeated in the affected centres at dates to be announced later.

The commission said the 36 centres were found to have fallen short of the standards. The affected recruits were asked to wait for the fresh dates and appear for a competitive recruitment.

“Some recruitment centres fell short of the standards set by the commission and as such, the exercise in those centres needs to be annulled and a repeat of the same be undertaken,” said NPSC chairman Johnston Kavuludi.

‘’Members of the recruiting teams that participated in the exercise will be disciplined once investigations are complete’’, Kavuludi added.

The members of the recruiting teams included DCs, medical officers, education officers, OCPDs and AP commanders among other agents who participated.

The teams wrote their recruitment reports that were relied upon against complaints that were lodged.

Kavuludi said there were 621 complaints and compliments that were lodged with the commission after the completion of the July 14 exercise in which 10,000 recruits were recruited.

The conclusion to nullify the exercise was reached after an interagency team set up to audit the exercise established there were cases of extortion, bribery, favouritism, nepotism, discrimination and outright violation of the applicable procedures on recruitment in some centres.

The team presented its report to the commission before it was adopted.

The team drawn from Ethics Anti-Corruption Commission, National Police Service Commission (NPSC), National Intelligence Service and CID had been auditing the responses and made various conclusions and recommendations which insiders said include disciplinary measures and repeat of the exercise in some areas.

The recruiting officers will be held accountable for any such confirmed crime and will face prosecution.

The police employer had delegated the mandate to recruit the 10,000 new officers to the commanders who have since forwarded their reports for analysis.

In the repeat of the exercise, the sub county officials implicated will not be involved, the commission said.

All commissioners were present when they made the announcement at the commission offices in Westlands in Nairobi.

“Obviously they will not be involved because already they are under investigations,” said Kavuludi.

The centres affected are: Tana Delta District Headquarters Centre, Mandera North Youth Centre, Rhamu Police Station, Merti DC’s Headquarters, Kinoru Stadium, Nguthiru Stadium, Umau Groungds, Njambini, Engineer Centre, Othaya Stadium, Gatanga Pri. School, Kandara Stadium, Kangema General Kago, Kigumo Bendera Sec. School, Police Division Headquarters Kapenguria and Sigor T. Centre.

Others are: DC’s office Chepkorio, Chesoi Primary School, Moi Girls Secondary School, Kapsabet Parade Ground, Maraba, Eldama Ravine Play Ground, Mpgotio P/Station Ground, Doldol T. Centre, DC’s Office Bahati, Njoro police Station, Narok Stadium, Ololunga Baraza Park, Maasai Technical School, DC’s Office Mashuru (Kajiado), Kipkelion Centre, Bomet Centre, DC’s Office Sotik, Isanjiro Pri. School, Kimilili Amtala Sports Centre and Amagoro Primary School.