President Uhuru Kenyatta ‘played role in ending impasse on officer vetting’

By Cyrus Ombati

Nairobi, Kenya: President Uhuru Kenyatta had to intervene to have vetting of senior police officers kick off as planned.

The process had stalled for months following opposition from a section of senior police officers, sources privy to the exercise revealed.

Uhuru is said to have summoned Interior Cabinet Secretary Joseph Ole Lenku and demanded an explanation after some officers complained that they were unable to discharge their duties due to the stalled vetting exercise.

A meeting was then called during which those opposed to the exercise agreed to allow it to go on.

The National Police Service Commission had refused to endorse deployment of the 141 commanders officers until they are vetted.

Police boss David Kimaiyo had appointed and deployed the commanders without them being vetted as requred by the law.

On Friday last week, Uhuru said vetting of all senior officers is mandatory as it is part of the ongoing transformation of public service sector.

“If you don’t want to change, please leave and allow us to appoint people willing to serve. Vetting is a must and all of you must agree to that,” he said amid applause.

Uhuru said while he was the Finance minister in 2010, some senior officers had opposed various proposed reforms including the planned leasing of vehicles for the service.

“I know the Office of the President is the most corrupt and security matters are used as the basis of perpetuating that vice. Some senior officials hide behind security to continue with corruption. It is time to change,” he said.

Ratified criteria

NPSC and other stakeholders met in Naivasha on Friday and Saturday and ratified the criteria that will be used in the exercise that is set to kick off in December.

Ole Lenku said they expect the first phase targeting senior officers to be completed by March 2014 before moving to the lower ranks.

“The force is large with over 80,000 officers and we expect the whole exercise to end by March next year,” said Lenku.

He admitted that the vetting required huge resources especially to compensate those officers who would leave, but added that Treasury had committed to support the exercise.

The Cabinet Secretary said the process would help weed out ‘bad apples’ and restore the service’s credibility.

He assured those to be vetted that the exercise would be free and fair.