We want pay increment, police tell Maraga team

The Chair of Police Task Reforms David Maraga receives a recommendation report from Bruno Shioso the Commandant of Kiganjo Training Police College in Nyeri on February 9, 2023. [Kibata Kihu, Standard] Poor remuneration, lack of allowances, delayed promotions and lack of modern weaponry and mental health services are some of the issues police want urgently addressed. Presenting their views to the National Police Reform Task Force in Nakuru, officers drawn from various parts of the region said their salaries need to be improved and they should benefit from hardship allowances just like teachers posted in hardship areas. They told the team headed by John ole Moyaki, a member of the task force, that their salaries were wanting and increments either take long or are done in phases to the inconvenience of junior officers who are always considered last. Rongai Police Commander Wilberforce Sicharani spoke on behalf of NPS and said it was time for salaries to be increased. He urged the government to step in and increase hardship allowances for officers operating in areas prone to insecurity, banditry and terrorism. Sicharani noted that some areas in Nakuru, are hardship areas but police officers working there are not given hardship allowances. "Areas like Subukia and Laikipia are prone to insecurity. Teachers working there have hardship allowances but police officers do not have, we propose the same to be affected," said Sicharani. The police boss complained of poor working conditions and the sorry state of police stations and posts within the region. He explained how in Rongai, a foreigner's old house was converted into a police post. "Furniture is poor and the environment unsafe. Officers working in those areas are not motivated, safe or proud of their work," he said. New furniture He wants the task force to push the government to provide durable and new furniture and carry out repairs on stations. The OCPD also pushed for more training centres and sessions for officers, noting that the majority of the centres collapsed and officers undergo minimal training in a year. "Officers need to study investigations, crime, groundworks among other necessary training," he said. Nakuru GK Prisons Deputy in charge Benjamin Boit proposed a 115 per cent salary increment for officers. He also pushed for the harmonisation of salaries and allowances for NPS and prison officers, noting that at times, prison officers are discriminated against. He wants annual increments revised and increased by 50 per cent and salaries review to be done after every year. "The police risk allowances should be increased from Sh7,000 to Sh30,000. Police officers are always at risk and get injured during operations," said Mr Boit. He called for the government to procure a workable and comprehensive medical cover without limits, for officers and increase the number of dependents from five to 10. The prison boss proposed that the limitation of officers to specific hospitals for NHIF should be removed and officers be allowed to get treated with medical covers in the majority of the hospitals. The officers want promotions reviewed to ensure officers who have been working for three years get promotions, based on merit, irrespective of their levels of education. The officer also spoke on mental health for officers and called on the government to hire more counsellors to ensure officers with mental ill-health get immediate help. Boit also sought for the prison's infrastructure including roads to be improved. Mr Moyaki said the government had begun the process of recruiting counsellors to help officers.

We want pay increment, police tell Maraga team

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