Kibaki, Raila to name new team to appoint police chief

     By ISAAC ONGIRI iongiri@ke.nationmedia.com
Posted  Monday, August 27  2012 at  11:54

Prime Minister Raila Odinga on Monday announced that a new list of nominees for the National Police Commission (NPC) will be forwarded to Parliament this week.

Mr Odinga, who was speaking when he led a group of former torture victims in tour of the former Nyayo torture dungeons, said internal differences that had blocked the creation of the NPC have since been addressed.

“We have agreed on a new list of names which we will be forwarding to parliament for approval later this week,” the PM stated.

An earlier list forwarded to Parliament by the acting Head of Public Service Mr Francis Kimemia was rejected after Mr Odinga disowned it, saying he was not consulted.

The Office of President had nominated Ms Amina Mosoud to chair the crucial commission expected to steer the reformed Kenya Police Service. Other commissioners nominated at the time were Ms Esther chui-Colombini, Mr Ronald Musengi, Mr James Atema, Mr Muiiu Shadarck Mutia and Ms Mary Auma.

“We are hopeful that the new list will be agreeable to all of us so that we move the promise forward,” said Mr Odinga.

Once approved by Parliament, the commission will appoint the Inspector General of Police and his two deputies.

The Commission on Implementation of the Constitution (CIC) chairman Charles Nyachae on Sunday said anyone could petition the courts that Police Commissioner Mathew Iteere was in office illegally and should be removed.

He said the Constitution and the National Police Service Act were clear that the police should be under an inspector general.

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Mr Odinga, a former political prisoner and a victim of torture, was visiting the chambers in commemoration of the second anniversary of the promulgation of the constitution.

The PM said anti-reform forces were out to suppress the implementation of the new constitution and called on pro-reform supporters to remain steadfast in pushing for good governance in the country.

“Though there is a strong wind of change, the perpetrators of impunity have regrouped and they are fighting hard to intimidate the champions of change,” the PM said.

Raila declared the Nyayo torture chambers will be transformed into a monument of shame and opened to members of the public after the order is gazzetted.

“I have asked the Ministry of National Heritage to turn this chamber into a nation museum and all the chambers opened up to the public,” the PM said at the basement of Nyayo house.

A torture survivor Mr Njeru Kathangu complained that the government has been frustrating efforts to turn the chamber into a museum by attempting to deconstruct the 14 cells at the basement of the towering building.

“Though there has been an agreement that this area be declared a monument of shame some secret agents within government have been keen to destroy it completely,” Mr Kathangu said