Parliamentary committee decries high cases of nepotism in police force

By VITALIS KIMUTAI

KENYA: A parliamentary committee has called for a clear policy on promotion of police officers to avoid cases of nepotism entrenched in the force.

The Committee on Administration and National Security chaired by Tiaty MP Asman Kamama demanded the guidelines be implemented, noting though the recruitment of police had become transparent due to the on-going reforms, there were clear manipulations when it comes to promotions.

The MP said it was sad that most deserving officers had been bypassed in promotions and continue to serve as constables more than 20 years after joining the police service.

“Most of the junior officers have been forced to apply for loans to bribe their bosses in order to secure promotions being dished out,” Kamama said. He observed that the only time a semblance of order prevailed in promotions was during the tenure of former Police Commissioner Hussein Ali. He made the remarks when a counsel at the Attorney General’s office Marion Mureithi appeared before the committee yesterday to explain the proposed changes in National Police Service Commission and Police Service Acts.

Members of the committee also raised issues with the use of force in protecting property, saying it should only be used to guard lives. Budalangi MP Ababu Namwamba and Baringo County MP Grace Kiptui said police officers had in the past carried out extra-judicial killings in the guise of protecting property and there was need to safeguard against it through legislation.

The MPs unanimously agreed that a petition to remove an Inspector General should be forwarded to the National Assembly by the President within 14 days after receiving it from the police commission.

Parliament will then have seven days within which to discuss the matter and forward their resolutions to the President for action.