New police commissioners to take oath

Eliud Kinuthia who was nominated by President Uhuru Kenyatta to head the National Police Service Commission. Kinuthia will take over from Johnston Kavuludi whose term has ended.

 

The six nominees for commissioners of the National Police Service Commission are set to be sworn into office Monday.

The ceremony will take place at the Supreme Court of Kenya today to be presided over by Chief Justice David Maraga.

They include Eliud Ndung’u Kinuthia as chair and Lilian Kiamba, Eusibius Laibuta, lawyer Naftali Kipchirchir Rono, Alice Atieno Otwala and John Ole Mayaki as members.

President Uhuru Kenyatta gazzetted the team on March 13 paving the way for their swearing in to office. This was after Parliament approved their appointment.

The move follows the exit of the former commissioners headed by Johnston Kavuludi after they stayed in office for six years.

It comes at a time when the term of the Inspector General of police Joseph Boinnet who is a member of the commission ends. His successor Hillary Nzioki Mutyambai has been nominated and is set to be vetted by Parliament before he is approved for appointment.

Other members of the commission are Deputy Inspector General of Kenya Police Njoroge Mbugua and that of Administration Police Service Noor Gabow.

The former team said it had succeeded in putting in place a rigorous vetting process for officers, fostering cordial relations with various stakeholders and engaged fruitfully with the National Assembly, the Civil Society, the Police Reforms Steering Committee and a number of international organizations.

The Kavuludi led team was the first one under the 2010 constitution and had faced a number of challenges in their six-year tenure in office.

NPSC takes care of the affairs of the police, including keeping under review all matters relating to standards or qualifications required of members of the service and with the advice of the Salaries and Remuneration Commission, determine the appropriate remuneration and benefits of officers.

It also approves applications for engagement in businesses by officers in accordance with the law and provide terms and conditions of service, develops fair and clear disciplinary procedures in accordance with Article 47 of the Constitution and investigate and summon witnesses for the purposes of its investigations.

The commission shall also receive and investigate complaints by members of the Service, monitor and investigate policing operations affecting members of the public.

The commission comes to office when many pending reforms are on course amid fears they may stall.