Kibaki extends term of team on police reforms

The team overseeing police reforms will remain in office for another six months after President Kibaki extended its term. PHOTO / FILE 

By FRED MUKINDA fmukinda@ke.nationmedia.comPosted Monday, December 27 2010 at 21:00

In Summary

• Naikuni-led group to play key role in hiring new joint force chief and vetting senior officers

The team overseeing police reforms will remain in office for another six months after President Kibaki extended its term.

Kenya Airways chief executive Titus Naikuni heads the Police Reforms Implementation Committee appointed on January 8, with an initial one-year mandate.

It was formed to implement the Justice Philip Ransley report on modernising the force.

The team was tasked to “review, identify quick wins and prioritise recommendations for immediate implementation.”

The report made 200 recommendations with the most urgent being the transformation of the regular and Administration police forces into a national service, which has not been achieved.

Once it is done, the two forces would be under the command of an Inspector-General.

At present, Mr Mathew Iteere is the Commissioner of Police, while Mr Kinuthia Mbugua is the Administration Police Commandant.

The report froze recruitment for a year until a new training curriculum is developed.

Liaising with Kenyatta University and the Police Training College in Kiganjo, the team has helped draft a new training curriculum to create a more professional police service.

Mr Naikuni’s team has made progress on many fronts. It ensured that outstanding transfer allowances for police officers were paid.

Police officers have been given a pay rise — 25 per cent for seniors and 28 per cent for the lower ranks. The team is also pushing for acquisition of at least 1,000 vehicles to enhance movement of officers.

The group has reached out to the Public Service Commission on the proposed vetting of senior officers in a bid to streamline promotions and enhance professionalism.

Those found to have been promoted unprocedurally, poorly educated or with disciplinary problems would be sent home.

The Ransley report recommended vetting officers from the rank of assistant commissioner of police, but the team wants the process to start at the rank of senior superintendent of police.

The ranks of senior deputy commissioner of police II, deputy commissioner of police and senior assistant commissioner of police will be abolished.