Vetting of police officers by National Police Service Commission to start mid-June

By Cyrus Ombati

Nairobi, Kenya: Vetting process of all police officers is set to start in June before they are deployed to the Counties.

Police employer National Police Service Commission announced on Monday they have formulated vetting tools to be used in interviewing the officers.

Commission chairman Johnston Kavuludi said they intend to finalise vetting preparations by May 27 28.

 “Let the officers know that this is a procedural exercise and it is not meant to punish or victimize anyone of them. It will be used to realise talent and other issues within the service and so be ready,” he said.

He said Inspector General of Police David Kimaiyo, his two deputies Samuel Arachi and Grace Kaindi and CID’s Ndegwa Muhoro have been excluded from the exercise because they had been vetted during their interviews for their positions.

Kavuludi spoke on Monday at a press conference organized by the commission to elaborate on their achievements and goals.

He said vetting will be a continuous process and that there will be public participation in accordance with the law.

The issue of vetting has been a thorn in the flesh for many officers who fear it may be used to punish or push them out of the service.

Others say they may opt to resign if they feel the process will be unfair to them but the commission has reassured there will be no victimization.

Kimaiyo said despite the fact that the positions of the Provincial Police Officers (PPOs), Provincial Criminal Investigations Officers (PCIOs) and formation commanders from both services have been scrapped by the law, the current holders will stay in office until the County Commanders are appointed.

 “The commanders will be in office until we have new County ones who will take over. There will be no vacuum at all” he said.

He said he has proposed the creation of Internal Affairs, Police Reforms, Administration, Finance and Planning, Operations Audit and Human Capital Management directorates at national level to help him in running the police service.

In his office, he wants directorate of operations, logistics, personnel, planning development and research, reforms, inspections, community policing, gender and child protection and complaints.

Documents from his office show Kimaiyo suggested the commands at the Provincial level are automatically dissolved after the conclusion of the March 4 general elections. 

 “It is imperative that the police establishments conform to the new dispensation which includes devolution of police services to the Counties. The Commands at the Provincial level are automatically dissolved,” said Kimaiyo in a document.

His proposal paved the way for the police employer, National Police Service Commission to advertise for the positions of the County Commanders.

Kimaiyo asked police officers to apply for the positions in an internal communication to all services.

The commission also asked officers without a university degree and want to be in charge of Counties in the country to apply for the positions.

The appointment of the commanders will now create way for the establishment of the County Policing Authorities in accordance with the law.