Senior Police Officers Put on Notice For Skipping Leave Days

Police officers and citizens pictured outside Kasarani Police Station.
Police officers and citizens pictured outside Kasarani Police Station, Nairobi County.
Twitter
Nation

Deputy Inspector General of Police Edward Mbugua is irked by failure of some senior officials within the service to go on annual leave.

In a letter dated Monday, December 14, and addressed to regional police and information commanders, Mbugua noted that there was no justifiable reason why some senior officials failed to take their leave days.

He further noted that records showed that most senior officials were not proceeding on leave.

The DIG further threatened to forfeit half of the outstanding leave days, arguing that the senior officers were setting the precedence to their juniors.

Deputy Inspector-General of Police Edward Mbugua.
Deputy Inspector-General of Police Edward Mbugua.
File

"I will strictly follow the guidelines in the SSO (Service Standing Orders) by forfeiting half the number of days. This means that no officer will have more than 54 days at any time of the year.

"There is no justifiable reason why officers fail to proceed on leave. Which lesson are we teaching our junior officers if senior officers are not proceeding on annual leave?" Daily Nation quoted a police memo.

"You should mentor your officers by giving deputies a chance to manage your commands in your absence," continued the letter.

The DIG also directed that the officers who had previously accrued leave days would be allowed to apply beginning January 2021.

On the same day the memo was circulated, the Inspector General of Police Hilary Mutyambai noted that all police officers on leave had been recalled in order to beef up security during the festivities.

"During this festive season, police officers will carry out enhanced patrols. All officers on leave have since been recalled to give sufficient back up. 

"Also, because of the uniqueness of the season, a multi-agency team is put in place to enhance security," Mutyambai noted.

His statement was in response to one of the questions during his regular Q&A session on Twitter.

In recent months, police operations across the country has been intensified as the festive season approached.

IG Hillary Mutyambai (right) and his deputy Edward Mbugua (centre) on a helicopter
IG Hillary Mutyambai (right) and his deputy Edward Mbugua (centre) on a helicopter.
Capital Group