By Cyrus Ombati
The National Police Service Commission has announced it will next month recruit 7,000 new police officers ahead of the March 2013 general election.
The commission has also said it intends to review police appointments, promotions, deployment and training procedures and secure the welfare of police officers by improving their terms and conditions of service.
Commission chairman Johnston Kavuludi told the media yesterday the recruitment process of the constables for both regular and Adminisration Police had been budged for.
“These new officers will supplement those in service and in particular during the general election. We hope to ensure the exercise is credible and straight forward,” said Kavuludi.
He made the remarks in his office in Nairobi as the commission announced its workplan even as it announced the start of recruitment of the Inspector General of Police and two deputies.
He told police not to fear the commission’s work and assured them that it will work professionally and with interest of the country.
“Change is difficult and uncomfortable but we wish to allay any apprehension in the minds of the police officers that our commission’s task is to remove officers from service. Our principal task is to transform the police from a force to a service.”
The commission added they plan to also declare vacant, the positions of the director of CID and other formation commanders as per the law.
He said police operations and other changes being made by the commissioner of police and commandant of AP will continue as usual but the commission will have a say on them in the end.
Kavuludi said they intend to restart the vetting process of all senior police officers to check on their suitability once they have a clear working progress in place.
Monday was the first time that the commission was making the announcement since it was inaugurated a week a go.
There have been fears among senior police officers that the planned vetting is aimed at removing them from office but the commission said the exercise will be conducted professionally.
The Commission has left open chances of a civilian to lead the police force as an Inspector General.
Those who want to lead the police force have until October 29 to apply for the positions of Inspector General and two deputies.
One of the three holders of the positions has to be a woman.
Those seeking to be IG, must hold a degree from a recognized university in Kenya, be Kenyans with knowledge and experience in either criminal justice, policy development and implementation, finance and public administration, security, law, sociology or government.
The candidates must also meet Chapter Six of the Constitution on integrity.
The same applies to candidates seeking to be appointed to the position of Deputy Inspector General.
But anyone seeking to serve in this position of DIG must be a serving police officer of or above the rank of superintendent and have had experience in police for at least 15 years.
The deputies of Inspector General will head both regular and AP. If the IG is a man, either of the deputies must be a woman, the advert states.
Some police officers have been opposed to the proposition of appointing a civilian to lead the force.
The members of the commission are Mary Owour, Major Shadrack Mutia, Murshid Mohammed, Ronald Musengi and Esther Columbini.
NPSC will take over the affairs of the police, including keeping under review all matters relating to standards or qualifications required of members of the service and with the advice of the Salaries and Remuneration Commission, determine the appropriate remuneration and benefits of officers.
It shall also approve applications for engagement in businesses by officers in accordance with the law and provide terms and conditions of service.
The commission will develop fair and clear disciplinary procedures in accordance with Article 47 of the Constitution and investigate and summon witnesses for the purposes of its investigations.
It shall also receive and investigate complaints by members of the Service, monitor and investigate policing operations affecting members of the public.
Further, it will monitor, review and audit investigations and actions taken by the Internal Affairs Unit of the Service in response to complaints against the Police and keep a record of all such complaints regardless of where they have been first reported and what action has been taken;
It will conduct inspections of Police premises, including detention facilities under the control of the Service and review the patterns of Police misconduct and the functioning of the internal disciplinary process.
