Senior police officers opt out of vetting exercise

By CYRUS OMBATI

NAIROBI, KENYA: Some senior police officers targeted for vetting have opted not to undergo the exercise.

They failed to return their vetting tools to their employer Tuesday as required in readiness for the start of the exercise.

“They have either opted to retire or resign. Some of them did not return the documents,” said a senior official aware of the exercise.

They were supposed to return the papers to National Police Service Commission offices. The commission is still receiving public views on the 31 officers until December 7, when it will now start to peruse them.

Chairman Johnston Kavuludi said they have received several complements, complaints and general comments from the public, which he termed as useful.

“The response from the public is big and we are still receiving more views. We will go on with the vetting process,” said Kavuludi.

The commission supplied the 31 officers with a tool to help them establish if they have engaged in bribe taking or any other economic crimes during their career and they were supposed to return it by Tuesday. The document also seeks to establish if the officers had been involved in gross human rights violations, including indiscriminate or extrajudicial executions, torture, illegal or arbitrary arrest and detention.

The tool also asks them if they have ever been involved in negligence of duty.

Among the documents the police are expected to provide are academic certificates, a duly completed declaration of income, assets and liabilities and bank statements for the last two years.

STATE REPORTS

It further asks them to explain if they have ever been named in any State report and circumstances where they ever disobeyed an official order from a superior officer, and justify why it had to happen.

Those disciplined or have received a warning letter will also need to be explain to the commission.

Those with cases in courts will also be required to provide that information.