Sunday, July 11, 2010

Protesting officers target referendum

Security chiefs were on Saturday night grappling with the ongoing pay protest by junior police officers amidst fears that the go-slow might interrupt preparations for the August 4 constitutional referendum.

Senior police officers were on Saturday trying to talk to their juniors as the go-slow entered its fourth day following last Wednesday’s controversial 28 per cent salary increase announced by Internal Security minister George Saitoti.

Internal Security Permanent Secretary Francis Kimemia told the Sunday Nation that the officers were apparently unhappy because “they did not understand that their increment would be in three phases”.

The PS declined to comment further about the unprecedented move that has left government officials worried about how to carry out the referendum should the problem persist.

“The disgruntled officers might extend their dissatisfaction to the referendum campaign and voting day when they are expected to guard against hate speech and provide security,” a senior police officer, who sought anonymity because he is not authorised to talk to journalists, said.

With the referendum scheduled to be held in 24 days, police are expected to offer security for the movement of voting materials and secure voting centres and officials until the exercise is completed.

A Vigilance House spokesperson, however, said that police work had not been disrupted by the go-slow.

But for the fourth day running, disgruntled officers jammed the police radio system, hindering communication between the law enforcers.

More than 52,000 officers from regular police, administration police, prisons department, Kenya Wildlife Service, National Youth Service and Kenya Forest Service are scheduled to provide security during the August 4 referendum on the proposed constitution.

Ordinarily, the police commissioner deploys at least two police officers at every polling station.

The Commissioner of Police, Mr Mathew Iteere, on Friday chaired a high-level security meeting attended by all provincial police bosses and formation commanders to discuss security during the referendum.

However, the arrangements are likely to be disrupted if the disgruntled officers’ complaints are not addressed.

The officers will also expect to be paid their allowances for the extra duty during the referendum.

And, as the protesting officers continued to jam the police radio, sources told the Sunday Nation that senior police officers did not receive situational reports on incidents that happened on Saturday night.

By Saturday afternoon, top policemen had not received briefings popularly referred to in police circles as “morning call up”. Apart from the radio communication, the disgruntled officers did not send Situational Reports (SITREPs) to Police Headquarters.

However, deputy police spokesman Charles Owino Wahong’o on Saturday denied that there was any go-slow but said there has been interference with police communication.

“There is no go-slow and we are functioning properly. Even if there are a few discontented people within, we are a disciplined force and there is nothing they can do because police functions are well structured and each officer has a role to play. The role of a police officer in society is very critical and it would be unheard-of for an officer to be on a go-slow,” Mr Wahong’o said.

The deputy police spokesman said the fact that “some criminals” were interfering with radio communication does not mean that operations have been crippled because the police force has many channels of communication.

Police spokesman Eric Kiraithe told the media Saturday evening that the matter was under investigation and those found to be jamming the communication would be sacked.

The disgruntled police officers are asking why MPs awarded themselves hefty salary increments days before they (policemen) were given their meagre salary increment.

Following Prof Saitoti’s announcement, a police constable recruit will now earn Sh14,000, up from Sh11,000, with a Sh7,000 allowance, bringing his total salary to Sh21,000 while the highest paid constable will earn Sh26,000 and a Sh7,000 allowance, totalling Sh33,000.

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A corporal will earn Sh26,000, up from Sh22,000, while long-serving corporals will earn up to Sh42,000.

New sergeants will earn Sh33,000, up from Sh28,000, while older sergeants will earn Sh46,000, up from Sh37,000.

Fresh from college inspectors will earn Sh41,700, up from Sh35,000, while those who have served longer will earn Sh56,000, up from Sh46,000.

A chief inspector is scheduled to earn Sh49,000 and Sh64,000 after gaining experience.

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