Anxiety as police reforms taskforce recommends sacking of NPSC leadership

The leadership of the Eliud Kinuthia led National Police Service Commission (NPSC) and his fellow commissioners fate hangs in the balance after the report presented to president William Ruto by Taskforce on Police Reforms recommending their sacking is implemented.

The former Chief Justice David Maraga taskforce recommended that NPSC officers vacate office according to a report presented to the president at State House, Nairobi.

According to the team, the NPSC leadership has acquiesced to the National Police Service leadership’s continuing usurpation of its powers, worsening the vices that it was established to address.

“The task force has been left with no option but to recommend that the government considers initiating a negotiated exit, or any other legally recognized modality, for the current Commissioners of NPSC.” The report by the Maraga-led team stated in part.

NPSC is a constitutional commission where office bearers enjoy a security of tenure.

They also recommended the restoration of the police Airwing and that it should be controlled by the National Police Service and in adherence to the Kenya Civil Aviation Authority (KCAA); the maintenance, airworthiness, qualification, training, and relevant accreditation.

The Maraga-led team also urged the Parliament to provide adequate resources and budget support.

Further, the task force recommended adequate funding for the National Police Service to modernize its facilities, equipment, and gears so as to enhance its logistical and technological capabilities as well as provide decent housing for officers

They also want the current Traffic Police Unit restructured into a new Traffic Management Unit that is well-trained, leaner in numbers, and mainly reliant on technology to control and manage traffic flow in the country.

“The taskforce envisages the use of technology in the detection of traffic infractions, and the attendant fines becoming cashless by use of technology.” The report stated.

“While that is being done, the task force recommends appropriate amendment of Section 65 of the NPS Act within six months and the abolition of police roadblocks and their replacement with mobile patrol units.” The report adds in part.

The report also recommends that the Interior and National Administration Cabinet Secretary Kithure Kindiki should develop a bill immediately and request the National Assembly to enact a law that will oversee the reinstatement of the constitutional requirement for open, transparent, and competitive recruitment of the Inspector General of Police, the Deputies and the Director of Criminal investigation as under Sections 12, 13 and 30 of the NPS Act before 2014 amendments.

Further, the task force said for professionalism to be achieved at the NPS, the qualification for recruitment be raised to Grade C- from the current D+ in KCSE while in marginalized areas it is retained at D+ where there are no applicants.

It added that the initial training should be extended from nine months to 12 months with an emphasis being placed on competency-based training in line with the international policing standards.

Also to address the complaints of junior officers on transfers and deployments, they recommended the amendment of Regulation 9 (1) of the NPSC (Transfer and Deployment) Regulations to limit operational deployments to a period not exceeding six months while the other deployments that no person should serve in one county for more than three (3) years, save for those deployed to the specialized units.

For promotions, the task force recommended that a professional and motivated NPS should be based on a clear career progression and advancement path that takes into consideration factors such as competence, integrity, training relevant qualifications, skills, and experience.

According to their findings, the stagnation of junior officers in one rank, until retirement for example as in many cases, has been because of the widespread discontent and low morale in the Service; further recommending the establishment of grades of Inspector II and I and the introduction of Constable III, II, and I, and Corporal III, II, and I within the same ranks, all of which must be filled through open and competitive promotions based on merit.