Police boss Hillary Mutyambai is not sitting pretty at Vigilance House. The IG in his new quest to streamline the police service trailed by indiscipline cases faced by resistance from his officers.
Mutyambai's ambitious agenda to reform the National Police Service elicited tension after hundreds of police officers were transferred in the recent past.
The transfers led to the cancellation of a transfer order on Tuesday, October 8, that targeted police officers who had overstayed in their stations in Nairobi.
A police officer who spoke to the Daily Nation stated that there was no provision in the law that states the duration an officer should stay at a police station.
"Standing orders only say you can stay for a minimum of three years in a police station," the senior officer added.
Sources within the law enforcement agency told the Nation that a section of senior officers were strongly opposed to the transfers.
The senior officers questioned how the directive that forced all officers save those drawn from the DCI to don uniforms will help quell the upsurge of police taking part in criminal activities.
In an emergency meeting held on Tuesday, October 8, chaired by IG Mutyambai and attended by all senior officers, it is alleged that some of the officers were angered by their transfer to Vigilance House where they are languishing without defined duties and roles.
On October, 15, deputy IG Edward Mbugua transferred 34 junior officers to stations across the country. While junior and midlevel officers can serve at different stations, senior officers consider a transfer to Vigilance House as move preceding an end to their career especially to those who fell out with the powers that be.
Among those left without defined roles are former Kenya Airports police Unit (KAPU) boss Philip Ndolo. Former Central Regional Commander Gideon Amalla and Ex-Kenya Police Training College Commandant William Saiya.
A transfer order of all traffic police officers in Machakos was swiftly followed by Matiangi's directive that led to the redeployment of all senior officers in Gatundu constituency.
Matiangi made the directive after concerns were raised over fears that the Mungiki was re-emerging.
