NPSC reinstates 34 police officers sacked nine years ago in new transfers

NPSC chairman Johnston Kavuludi. [PHOTO: STANDARD/FILE]

By CYRUS OMBATI

NAIROBI, KENYA: More than 40 senior police officers have been moved in new changes in police amid complaints of lack of regional balance in the exercise.

Among those moved are Police County commanders for Marsabit and Narok Counties.

The new Marsabit County police commander is Benjamin Kogo and will replace Mr Erastus Muthamia who moves to Eastern police headquarters while Kayole OCPD Samuel Mukinda has been named the new Narok County police commander to replace Ms Grace Kakai who moves to police headquarters.

The new Kayole OCPD is Joseph Ndegwa while Mombasa’s Urban boss Kipkemboi Rop has been moved to Kericho in the same capacity to replace Aphiod Nyaga who was transferred to Vigilance House.

Police headquarters announced the changes that also saw Joseph Omija moved to Msambweni as the new OCPD to replace Jack Ekakoro who moves to Vigilance House and Joseph Mutungi transferred to Kinango as the division commander.

The new Mombasa Urban OCPD is Geoffrey Mayiek while Mr John Baraza is the new OCPD for Merti.

Teso OCPD Elphas Korir has moved to Embu headquarters while Shariff Abdalla has been moved from Western to Central administration department to replace Kariuki Kiura who was transferred to Vigilance House.

Some of the officers who were sent home nine years ago were reinstated and posted to new positions.

They include Stephen Soi (GSU headquarters), Johnston Korir (KAPU JKIA), Titus Kariuki (Dep Homa Bay County), Severine Kemboi (Dep Mombasa County), Peter Kamau (Dep Embu County), John Maru (traffic), Charles Ontita (Dep Kirinyaga County), Benson Momanyi (CID Hq), David Bett (CID Hq), Joel Langat (Dep Kajiado County), R Katiti (traffic) and Ronald Benkelei (KAPU).

Nyandarua OCPD Symon Gababa was moved to Taveta in the same capacity while Voi’s Justice Nzivo was transferred to police headquarters in Nairobi.

A court in July 2012, which quashed a decision by then Commissioner of Police Maj Gen Hussein Ali and the Public Service Commission (PSC) to retire the officers on May 5, 2004 ordered the return of 34 senior officers.

NPSC chairman Johnston Kavuludi told The Standard their decision to reinstate the officers was out of the court order that had been issued.

“We are honouring the court order and have approved the reinstatement of the officers. They will report to work as directed,” he said.

He added those who have reached retirement age will be paid their dues and those who will wish to resign will equally get what they deserve.

Kavuludi said the commission had met and agreed to reinstate the officers and give them a chance to serve the country.

Among those expected back are 15 officers of the rank of Senior Superintendent of Police and above and ten superintendents. One of the officers was reinstated posthumously.

Maj-Gen Ali who was then two weeks old in police ordered the sacking of the 57 officers with no reason in radical changes that he announced. He said the officers had been retired to facilitate reorganisation of the force.