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Three senior police officers have been sent packing in the latest phase of institutional reforms designed to rid the service of corrup
The officers were retired from service after failing in the vetting process by the National Police Service Commission (NSPC), it was announced yesterday.
Senior Deputy Commissioner of Police Francis Okonya, Senior Deputy Commissioner of Police in charge of police reforms Jonathan Koskei and Senior Deputy Commissioner of Police in the office of the Inspector General of Police Peter Eregae were all found unsuitable to serve.
They were the first casualties of the vetting exercise, which kicked off in December, to establish officers’ suitability for the jobs they currently hold.
Those who survived the chop were General Service Unit (GSU) Commandant William Saiya, Kiganjo Police Training College Commandant Peter Kavila, the Director of the Small Arms Secretariat John Patrick Ochieng and Abdi Shurie of the Administration Police Training College.
The commission made the announcement yesterday at their offices in Westlands, Nairobi, after evaluating the officers’ performance during the interview.
“We have informed all the affected officers on how they performed and those not happy with our verdict can appeal,” said commission chairman Johnston Kavuludi.
The vetting standards included officer’s satisfaction of entry and training requirements, their professional conduct and discipline, integrity, financial probity, and respect for human rights.
Those removed from the service will have the opportunity to appeal the panel’s findings during vetting review. Among the NPSC members are retired Justice Sarah Ondeyo and former Deputy Director of the Kenya Anti-Corruption Authority John Mutonyi.
The stage is now been set for the vetting of the second batch of other senior police officers, which starts next week.
The commission has already asked Senior Assistant Commissioners of Police and Assistant Commissioners of police in both regular and Administration Police to return their vetting tools by next Tuesday in readiness for the exercise.
Yesterday, Kavuludi confirmed that the officers were informed to return the forms to the Skypark offices of the commission in Westlands ahead of their vetting.
The vetting of 26 Deputy Commissioners of Police will start on Monday before that of 66 Senior Assistant Commissioners of Police and 115 Assistant Commissioners of Police start.
This is expected to last for four to six weeks.
Apart from the public questioning, the officers were supplied with a questionnaire which among others sought to establish if the police officers have ever been involved in activities of illegal groupings, cartels, banned societies and political parties.
Those who have money stashed in foreign accounts were required to give details on the same and they were also asked to provide their bank accounts for the last two years.
The applicable vetting standards included officer’s satisfaction of entry and training requirements, their professional conduct and discipline, integrity and financial probity, and respect for human rights.
Officers who satisfy the Commission with regard to competence and suitability will be retained and those who do not will be removed from service.
The officers who have been successful in the vetting will automatically be named to the rank of Senior Assistant Inspector General of Police (SAIG) in a new structure.
A new structure for the service has directorates at various levels.
In the national structure, there will be 10 SAIGs. Two will be in the Inspector General’s office, four in the office of the Deputy IG in charge of police, three in the office of DIG for AP and one in the office of Director of CID.
“There will be four SAIGs in the office of DIG Kenya Police, namely the Principal Assistant, commandant GSU, Commandant Kenya Police College and Commandant Anti- Stock Theft Unit,” said commission chairman Kavuludi.
Defend
“There will be no group vetting but we will call each officer to come and defend him or herself. We are looking into the integrity and suitability of individuals,” added Kavuludi.
He added that the process and procedures would be consistently applied in accordance with constitution.
Those in the vetting panel include NPSC Commissioners Kavuludi, Ronald Musengi, Mary Owour, Mohamed Murshid, David Kimaiyo, Samuel Arachi, Grace Kaindi, Francis Muhoro, Benedict Nzioki, Nyumba Kumi initiative committee members Joseph Kaguthi (Chairman) and two members of his committee security expert Simiyu Werunga and former Criminal Investigations Department Director Francis Sang and former police officer Mike Harris and don Kimani Njogu.
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