By CYRUS OMBATI

At least 10 senior police officers are to be retired in the public interest as part of proposed reforms.

A full National Police Service Commission meeting approved that the senior officers be sent home because of “serious allegations” against them and in the best interest of the public.

The commission met last Tuesday in Nairobi and approved the proposal by Inspector General of Police David Kimaiyo.

The meeting, which took a record ten hours, was also attended by five senior police officers, who were invited to listen to the proceedings and give their views.

Kimaiyo and his two deputies Grace Kaindi and Samuel Arachi attended the meeting. Kimaiyo said the meeting was procedural and the agenda included police operations. The commission will now prepare retirement letters for the officers before they are summoned.

Other officials said the meeting recommended fast tracking of the approval of the commission’s operating regulations and vetting tools.

“It is necessary because the newly-appointed commanders are virtually stranded. They do not have instructions on how they should work,” said a senior police officer aware of the meeting.

After the tools are approved and gazetted, the commanders and all other officers will be vetted in accordance with the law.

At loggerheads

Most commanders, who were appointed in July, have complained that they do not have tools to operate with, nor do they have ranks and appointment letters hence affecting performance.

The commission has been at loggerheads with Kimaiyo and his deputies over a number of issues, including the proposed amendments to the National Police Service (Amendment) Bill and National Police Service Commission (Amendment) Bill.

They have also differed over Kimaiyo’s move to make transfers and promote senior officers contrary to the law. Kimaiyo termed Tuesday’s meeting fruitful and good for police service. But a conflict between newly appointed county police commanders is slowing affecting police operations at various stations.

A number of the officers said most of the 141 commanders - 47 regular, 47 Administration Police and 47 CID officers are of the same rank hence it has become confusing on who should issue orders and at what time.

“You find an OCPD and the new county commanders share the same rank and none of them is ready to listen to the other. This has created a major conflict and confusion,” said one of the commanders.