Why Nairobi police are on a go-slow

By Cyrus Ombati

First it was teachers, university lecturers followed suit and then doctors downed their tools over pay grievances.

As the nation’s workers engage in a series of strikes over poor pay, it seems the police force has not been left behind.

The County Weekly has established that junior officers from all police sections have been on a go-slow since Wednesday last week

The unusual traffic snarl ups that paralysed transport within Nairobi from Wednesday last week were intentional consequences of the go-slow by junior police officers, The County Weekly learnt.

Senior police officers who talked to The County Weekly said the junior officers are bitter that a pay hike promise made to them in 2007 is yet to be fulfilled.

While the general duty police officers have been slow to respond to emergencies, traffic officers have been creating deliberate traffic snarl-ups, our sources said.

Jamming communication

The problem within the traffic section is also said to be connected to orders issued by new Traffic Police Commandant Benson Kibui who ordered his officers not to impound matatus during rush hours.

He made the statement at a meeting attended by matatu owners and police officers at the CID Training School.

Our source said the junior officers were unhappy because it is during rush hours that their services are required.

“It is during rush hours that matatus overlap and misbehave on the road. We also felt that the manner in which the Commandant gave us the orders was abusive,” said one officer.

But besides the problem brewing in the traffic section, investigations by The County Weekly show the police force has silently joined other striking Government workers in demanding that their salaries be reviewed.

Some junior officers have been jamming their communication gadgets in Nairobi and Mombasa, a development that has been paralysing operations.

Insiders say those on the go-slow usually take their time to respond to incidents like traffic and crimes.

“The problem is spreading all over. It is a major issue because even those in the Coast region have joined in,” said a senior officer who asked not to be named.

This is the second time in the last two months that the officers are disrupting their communication systems over failed pay increases.

The police officers want the Government to honour a pledge it made in 2007 to increase the money in phases. President Kibaki told the officers on Wednesday the Government is committed to improving the quality of their lives.

“Besides modernised training, I wish to assure Kenyans that the Government is committed to improving the quality of their lives,” said the President.

Kibaki added the Government will continue to address the welfare of the police including providing decent housing, improving terms and conditions of the service as well as improving the tools and equipment required for effective service delivery.

He was apparently responding to the discontent that is simmering within the force over the failed pledged pay.

Agreed not to implement

The pay rise has been pending since 2007 when recommendations were made by the defunct Permanent Public Service Remuneration Review.

The pay for the least paid officer was raised from Sh18, 155 to Sh34,000 per month, including allowances, if this year’s installment is implemented in line with recommendations of the Justice Ransley commission on police reforms.

Disgruntled officers jammed police communication network in Nairobi claiming they were left out of salary increases awarded to civil servants.

Senior officers have been using mobile phones to communicate with their juniors due to persistent disruption of their walkie-talkie-based communication.

Some officers played speeches of former internal security minister George Saitoti in which he promised to have the salaries reviewed.

A review of police salaries was made in 2010 and the government announced that the increments would be implemented in three phases.

Police officers were expecting the last phase to be implemented this month, following the 28 per cent increase in 2010 and 14 per cent last year.

Reliable reports indicate that the Treasury and the Directorate of Personnel Management have agreed not to implement in full a pay package approved for the officers until the Police Service Commission promised by the new Constitution is set up.

The pending pay increase is part of the second phase of a package earlier approved by the Ministry of Internal Security and Treasury, but the latter has defaulted on its pledge to submit Sh9 billion.

The junior officers told their seniors they would not take instructions unless the Government properly addressed the salary issue.