National Super Alliance (NASA) leader Raila Odinga has demanded that the National Police Service Commission (NPSC) re-advertise top police jobs as he accused President Uhuru Kenyatta of “hiring and firing via radio and TV”.
President Kenyatta recently appointed Edward Njoroge Mbugua (Ag. Deputy Inspector General, Kenya Police Service), Noor Yarao Gabao (Ag. Inspector General, Administration Police Service) and George Kinoti Maingi (Ag. Directorate of Criminal Investigations.)
Raila then accused him of usurping the powers of independent bodies such as the National Police Service Commission (NPSC) and the Independent Police Oversight Authority (IPOA) after which the NPSC advertised the jobs.
Now, Raila says the advertisement was 'meant to rubber-stamp illegal appointments', citing the 3-day notice it gave individuals interested in the vacancies.
“It is our position that the Police is too critical an institution to be constituted and disbanded according to the whims of an individual.
[caption caption="President Kenyatta with Inspector-General of Police Joseph Boinnet"]
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We demand that the National Police Service cancels the process of recruiting the deputy IGs and re-advertise the positions, spelling out the qualifications to be met," a statement from the former Prime Minister read in part.
He further demanded that the 3-day window given for interested applicants be stretched to 14 days.
Odinga stated: "The applicants must be given the required 14 days minimum period within which to apply.”
The NASA chief alleged that President Kenyatta had violated the Constitution by sacking top officers, a role that should be played by the Police Service.
"The procedures were twisted from the start such that instead of the National Police Service sacking the former employees, it is Mr. Kenyatta who did,” Raila stated.
[caption caption="NASA leader Raila Odinga"]
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