By  CYRUS OMBATI

Two more police commanders have opted to retire and not face the ongoing vetting exercise.

The Kisumu County CID boss Zachary Tum and Kiambu’s Bernard Mate indicated to the National Police Service Commission they were almost in the retirement age and would not wish to face the panel conducting the exercise. They are of the rank of Senior Assistant Commissioner of Police and were among those lined up for grilling in two weeks’ time.

The commission had told police officers who are not interested to be vetted to resign. Chairman Johnston Kavuludi said there was room for the officers to leave office honourably. They will be paid their dues.

“Any officer who feels uncomfortable with this exercise is free to resign. He or she can fill a form at our Secretariat to leave office,” said Kavuludi.

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The number of those who have opted out now increases to five. So far, Alfred Ombaba (Western), Fredrick Mulandi (AP Logistics) and John Maritim (Embu CID) have also opted out of the exercise.

Kavuludi made the remarks amid claims that some senior officers who were unhappy with the exercise planned to move to court to stop it.

Plans are that the team finished vetting of the 23 deputy commissioners of police by yesterday before that of 66 senior assistant commissioners of police and 115 assistant commissioners of police start.

Those removed from the service and are not happy will, however, have the opportunity to appeal the panel’s findings during vetting review which is composed of the NPSC members, Retired Justice Sarah Ondeyo, former Deputy Director of the Kenya Anti-Corruption Authority John Mutonyi, among others.

The applicable vetting standards included officer’s satisfaction of entry and training requirements, their professional conduct and discipline, integrity and financial probity and respect for human rights.

So far, the vetting exercise has seen three senior officers Francis Okonya, Peter Eregae and Jonathan Koskei, all of police headquarters retired.