The government will soon embark on a mass transfer of police officers who have stayed in their stations for more than three years, Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen has announced.
Speaking during a Thanksgiving ceremony in Tana River County on Saturday afternoon, the CS stated that the mass transfer was aimed at boosting the morale of police officers.
He noted that the tendency of police officers to stay in one station for a long time immensely contributed to demoralisation among officers, thus affecting service delivery.
According to Murkomen, the Inspector General of Police, Douglas Kanja, was finalising the preparations for the transfers, with the move expected to take place immediately after the completion of the forthcoming recruitment process.
"We have realised that one thing that demoralises police officers is the tendency to work in one station for a long period. The police and Kenyans demanded time-to-time transfers to boost the morale of police officers," Murkomen said.
"The IG is already working on the transfers and is awaiting the completion of the recruitment process to make the transfers," the CS added.
During the event, the CS also outlined several measures aimed at enhancing the effectiveness of the police service, including the salary increment to officers countrywide.
Murkomen noted that President William Ruto's administration was in the final stages of completing a salary increment for all police officers.
The CS clarified that the salary increase was being done in three phases, with the first two phases already completed. He, however, noted that the third phase of the increase was expected to be complete before the end of next year.
"We also know that the president has increased police salaries in phases. The first and second phases are complete, and the third phase will be done before the end of next year," the CS clarified.
Additionally, Murkomen disclosed the government's plan to solve the housing challenge facing officers. The CS revealed that the construction of 17,000 housing units was underway to address the challenge.
At the same time, he announced the ongoing procurement of additional police vehicles to address the mobility problem facing officers, particularly in marginalised areas such as Tana River and Lamu Counties.
