The National Police Service Commission (NPSC) Chairperson Eliud Kinuthia has asked President William Ruto to hasten the appointment of a new commissioner to replace Naftali Rono who resigned to undertake other national duties.
Speaking during a press briefing, Kinuthia also urged the selection committee which was formed on January 13 to speed up the search.
“On November 7, 2022, a commissioner left to take up other duties at the national government as he qualified to hold office as a high court judge. We are calling on the President to appoint the suitable candidate that will be forwarded by the selection panel to help bring in a new commissioner to fill in the gap left as were are currently experiencing some challenges in service delivery,” Kinuthia said.
The commission appointed an interim commissioner to currently act in capacity of the exited commissioner.
The commission foresees long-term inconveniences hence the move to ask the President to appoint a new commissioner to officially take up the mantle as constituted.
Additionally, he hailed the national government’s move to address the commission’s mandate and ongoing reforms in the police service specifically the national police service and the Kenya prisons service.
He applauded the government for instituting a reforms taskforce that is currently handling the social welfare of the men in blue as he urged police officers working under deplorable areas and conditions to come out and air their grievances to the taskforce so as to be addressed.
He also commended the government’s effort to reduce and offer job opportunities to the youths highlighting the most recent three pass-outs of 5,867 young men and women in uniform on permanent and pensionable terms expressing the commissions’ delight towards the same.
“We are in the first 100 days of the Kenya Kwanza administration and we are happy that the government is fulfilling towards its key manifesto promises towards the police service that it made during campaigns,” observed Kinuthia.
Kinuthia concurred with the mandates in the doctrines as entailed in the terms and conditions of the service.
“This taskforce in place is mandated to look into the social welfare of the police officers and we are hopeful that it will be able to address the key issues deterring the police from delivering their mandate including the move to ensure insurance of police officers,” Kinuthia said.