Interference blamed for poor CID performance

By Cyrus Ombati

The bid to get a new Director of Criminal Investigations (DCI) kicked off with candidates appearing for interviews blaming wrong placement on poor performance in the department.

The candidates said yesterday interference from within and outside the police service had led to disregard of the procedures that are usually used to recruit personnel to CID.

The director of planning at police headquarters Silas McOpiyo, who was the first to appear before the National Police Service Commission, said CID no longer recruit their personnel in accordance with the laid down procedure. He promised to correct the mess if and when appointed the DCI.

“It had been mandatory that before one joins CID, he or she must first be assigned to general crime beat, report office and later in crime branch at police station level before talents are picked up and sent for training but that has changed for unknown reasons,” said McOpiyo.

He was answering questions from the commissioners who wanted to know what is ailing the department.

Corrupt individuals

Another candidate, Stanley Cheruiyot of legal department at CID, also said there was need to have right people at the right sections.

The head of CID training school Peter Muinde appeared before the team and said retraining will be part of the solution.

The candidates said vetting and evaluation of performance of the personnel will also help in weeding out corrupt individuals.

Today, deputy director of CID Gideon Kimilu, head of investigations at CID headquarters Mohamed Amin and head of Interpol at CID headquarters Mary Kaol will be interviewed.