Police commission promotes senior officers to enhance operations ahead of 2017 elections

A number of police officers have been promoted a head of a planned new scheme of service.
Among those who benefited include the deputy principal assistant to the Deputy Inspector General of Kenya Police Kingori Mwangi, head of operations Benson Kibui-Kenya police and AP’s Peter Pamba and General Service Unit commandant Stephen Chelimo who will be promoted to Senior Assistant Inspector General of Police.

Nairobi Area police commander Japheth Koome will be among those who will be promoted to the rank of Assistant Inspector General (AIG). But a meeting of National Police Service Commission rejected the list of Kenya police for lacking gender and regional balance.

Among those proposed for the rank of AIG in the Kenya Police include Noor Gabow, Henry Barmao, Edward Mwmburi, Daniel Kibenei, Solomon Makau, Peter Mwanzia, Julius Kitili, John Ngui Mwinzi, Gabriel Musau, Samuel Kimaru, Joseph Kodi, Titus Muvea, Douglas Kanja and Eunice Kihoko. The commission however asked for amendment of the names to have a national face.

Those in Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) promoted to the rank of AIG include Gideon Kibunja, Samuel Nyabengi, Michael Barasa, Francis Njiru, Henry Ondiek, Peris Muthoni, Ambrose Munyasia, Pius Macharia, John Gachomo, Sospeter Mwinyi, David Cheruiyot and Charles Muthusi
The Commission meets Tuesday to consider the new list from police among other issues.

The promotions have been pending for long affecting progress in the service. This also affected command in general. So far at least five other senior officers have retired after attaining the 60 years mandatory retirement age.

A new scheme to be launched next month has abolished the rank of Commissioner of Police and replaced it with that of Principal Superintendent of Police to avoid the current confusion over the highest rank in the defunct Kenya Police Force.

The new scheme of service to be launched in September will have 14 police grades and will be aligned to that of the mainstream civil service.

"This means police officers will forthwith enjoy a salary and allowances commensurate to their colleagues who are serving in the civil service," says the commission.

The Director of Human Capital Management at the commission Fredrick Mugambi, says they are set for launching and implementation of the scheme by September this year.
The National Police Service Commission is mandated by the Constitution to carry out all the Human Management functions in the National Police Service.

The successful implementation of a scheme of service will be a turning point in the operations of the NPS.
The scheme has already been validated by key stakeholders in the security sector and police officers of various ranks and now awaits a Board decision and printing before its formal launch.

The Commission has further developed 19 Sub Schemes of Service that will guide the career progression of Technical Personnel who wish to join the NPS in the following fields; Clinical Officers, Nursing Officers, Medical Engineering, Radio- Graphers, Occupational Health, Medical Officers, Dental Officers and Veterinary Officers.
Others include Legal, Civil Engineering, Electrical, Electronics Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Telecommunications Engineering, and Aircraft Maintenance and Pilots.

These professionals will however join the NPS at slightly higher grades than their general counterparts in recognition of their qualifications, the bulletin says.

THE STRUCTURE OF THE NATIONAL POLICE SERVICE AS PER THE SCHEME OF SERVICE
Serial Rank Police Grade Equivalent Job Group in Civil Service
1. Constable PG 1 F
2. Corporal PG 2 G
3. Sergeant PG 3 H
4. Senior Sergeant PG 4 J
5. Inspector PG 5 K
6. Chief Inspector PG 6 L
7. Assistant Superintendent PG 7 M
8. Superintendent PG 8 N
9. Senior Superintendent PG 9 P
10. Principal Superintendent to replace the Commissioner of Police PG 10 Q
11. Assistant Inspector General PG 11 R
12. Senior Assistant Inspector General PG 12 S
13. Deputy Inspector General PG 13 T
14. Inspector –General PG 14 U