Grapevine: Police top brass split over political neutrality
There is simmering tension within the senior command of the National Police Service (NPS) over growing concerns about how the service can rebuild public confidence while maintaining its constitutional obligation to remain impartial in the country’s increasingly charged political environment.
The Grapevine has it that some senior officers are privately worried that operational decisions being taken within the service could be interpreted as aligning the police with particular political interests ahead of the 2027 General Election.
A senior officer is said to have openly lamented that some key operational assignments are being undertaken without his knowledge or approval, raising fears that any missteps could ultimately be blamed on the wider command and further damage the institution’s reputation.
Insiders say the concerns have sparked unease within the upper echelons of the service, with some officers calling for tighter adherence to established chains of command and operational procedures.
The finger of responsibility, according to the grapevine, is increasingly pointing towards Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Douglas Kanja, who insiders say must ensure that junior officers strictly observe the National Police Standing Orders and established command structures.
The concern is that failure to enforce discipline and institutional neutrality could deepen internal divisions while exposing the service to unnecessary political controversy.
