Senior police chiefs put on firing line

By Cyrus Ombati

Senior police officers are filling forms outlining academic qualifications, professional courses done and career progression as the process to separate the wheat from the chaff kicks off in earnest. The eight-page forms which the top cops are supposed to submit in four sets comes from the Public Service Commission (PSC), which is executing the revitalisation of the country’s organs of policing under one head as set out in the Constitution promulgated in August.

“The forms will be taken to the PSC, which will interview them to see their suitability. Even the Commissioner of Police will be vetted and I can tell you a big number of officers may be retired,” revealed a senior officer who asked for anonymity. There are about 2,000 officers in the rank of Superintendent and above.

The police officers of rank, estimated at 500, are being asked for personal information and officials details that could help those vetting them to determine if they are fit to be retained after the shake-up recommended by the Justice Ransley Commission on Police Reforms.

One of the commission’s drastic recommendations was the involvement of civilians to play an oversight role as a way of securing the country’s democracy through an efficient, judicious and professional force propped up by the pillars of transparency and accountability.

Those to be vetted are of the rank of superintendent and above, meaning at least 500 senior officers could be axed through the process spearheaded by PSC, according to reliable sources involved in the rebuilding exercise.

Kenya Anti-Corruption Commission and the National Security Intelligence Service (are also supposed to play a role in the exercise as per the recommendations of Ransley Commission, whose recommendations are being implemented.

The regular and Administration Police, who will be put one command — Inspector General — have up to Friday to fill and hand over the special forms. Police Headquarters will then return the forms to the PSC on November 15.

The forms, a copy of which The Standard has obtained, requires the officers to give personal information that would be used for the ‘review’. The law enforcers will have to spell out their academic qualifications and justify their rise up the ladder.

Sources said some officers have been burning the midnight oil to acquire at least a diploma or a degree since the Ransley Report was made public. Vigilance House, which houses the regular police administration and Harambee House which is the AP command centre have directed officers to work in overdrive mode to facilitate PSC’s demand.

As a sign of its seriousness the Government has already approved Sh148 million to fund the vetting process and police reform programme. The money will also be used to recruit the Inspector General of the upcoming National Police Service and the Deputy Inspector Generals as well as harmonisation of the new ranking order.

Panic among officers

The money is part of the Sh3.5 billion that has been budgeted for implementation of the new laws.

The move has sent panic among some officers who fear they may fall short of the benchmarks set and be sent home. The form requires the officers to indicate their date of enlistment, current rank, home district, academic qualifications, professional standing, promotional courses attended, honours, awarded, commendations received, as well as career progression and current duties.

A section of officers feel merit has not been observed previously in promotions and posting of officers. Insiders revealed the vetting would reach its peak by December ahead of the major changes, which will see deployment of officers to the new counties. There is a general feeling that some of the targeted officers may have not attained their current ranks on merit.

The Ransley Report recommends that all officers of the rank of Assistant Commissioner of police and AP and above be subjected to review against a criteria developed jointly by the PSC, KACC and NSIS. The criteria will include professionalism, integrity, track record and psychological fitness.

“Those found unfit for retention should be retired with sufficient safety nets to cushion them on exit,” reads part of the report.

Senior officials are reported to be apprehensive about the future of a section of 200 officers above the rank of Assistant Commissioner of Police following the scrapping of the posts by the new Constitution.

Sources said the planned structures would accommodate only 78 officers in the rank of ACP and above, meaning the majority of them may be demoted or retired by PSC.

Commissioner of Police Mathew Iteere and AP commandant Kinuthia Mbugua have met the PSC and agreed on the way forward. Internal Security minister Prof George Saitoti told a meeting of police that the ongoing reforms are not aimed at punishing any individual in the force.

Saitoti said the reforms, which will see a number of officers retired are aimed at enabling the Force address some of the challenges they face in the future.

cost Sh81 billion

About 200 separate reforms are lined up in both Regular and Administration Police in the coming four years, which will cost Sh81 billion. A new structure to run the new police outfit will be formed. It will include the Police Service Commission, National Policing Council and Independent Policing Oversight Authority.

An Inspector General (IG) of the Kenya Police Service and Commandant General of Administration Police Service (CG) to report to the three bodies will be appointed.

There will be Deputy Inspector General with assistants in training, GSU, Operations and Directorate of CID.

There will also be Provincial Police Commissioners (PPCs) who will report to the IG.

The President, following recommendations of the Police Service Commission, will appoint the IG and CG after a transparent and competitive process.

There will be a new structure of the police ranks, which will include the Inspector General, Deputy Inspector General, Assistant Inspector General, Police Commissioner, Assistant Commissioner of Police, Senior Superintend and Superintendent of Police. The same will apply to the new Administration Police Service, which will be created.

A number of Bills are lined up for tabling in Parliament to allow the reforms. The first Bill, which is ready, proposes the Independent Policing Authority governed by a board, which is chaired by “a person qualified to be appointed a judge of the High Court of Kenya”.

The proposed law seeks to lift the lid on cartel-like policies and stealth that promote police crime and challenges the force’s iron-fisted tactics.