Report retains Administration and regular police forces

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By Cyrus Ombati

There will be no merger between the Kenya police and Administration Police forces, a national task force on police reforms recommends.

Instead, a National Policing Council would be created to ensure proper representations of police formations.

The council would be chaired by PS in-charge of police services and would be responsible for budgeting and resource allocation, the report says.

The final report of the National Taskforce on Police Reforms was presented to President Kibaki and Prime Minister Raila Odinga at Harambee House, yesterday.

The report prepared by a team chaired by Justice Phillip Ransley made far-reaching recommendations, which will see both forces transformed to be acceptable outfits.

While receiving the report, President Kibaki assured them its recommendations would be implemented.

The 300-page report recommends establishment of a Kenya Police Service to be headed by an Inspector General and the Administration Police Service to be headed by a Commandant General.

An Independent Policing Oversight Authority charged with investigation of public complaints against the service will also be formed.

Recruitment and promotions

"The oversight authority should be chaired by a person of the rank of a judge of the High Court and members be drawn from fields such as human resource, financial management, corporate management and religious organisations," reads the report in part.

It calls for establishment of a Police Service Commission, which would be responsible for transfers, recruitment and promotions.

This will, however, require a constitutional amendment since the police would report to a body separate from the Public Service Commission.