Graduate cops are set to earn promotions and salaries reinstated after the court quashed a previous order that lowered their rank and slashed their earnings.
Judge Nduma Nderi of the Employment and Labour Relations Court, on Thursday, September 29, established that it was illegal for National Police Service Commission (NPSC) to degrade fresh graduates.
The court observed that it was within their rights to earn salaries commensurate to their ranks and service delivery.
"The court is satisfied that the reduction in salary and rank was not preceded by a notice to affected police officers and the decision was implemented by the Inspector General of Police and NPSC without giving them any opportunity to be heard," ruled Nderi.
The graduate officers had been downgraded from job group J to F and limited from scaling the NPS ranks.
Judge Nderi insisted that the decision was arrived at illegally and quashed a notice by the Inspector General of Police in November 2021.
"The court further issues an order prohibiting the IG and the NPSC either by themselves, their agents or servants; from in any manner reducing graduate officers’ pay from Job Group J to Job Group F as in the letter dated November 17, 2021," the court ordered.
"The decision was arbitrary, unreasonable, unlawful, and a blatant violation of the accrued rights of the officers from the date of their recruitment to that when they were demoted for no good cause and their remuneration reduced to their great loss and detriment," he added.
The changes came after Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua expressed his intention to institute reforms in the security sector. Specifically, Rigathi instructed officers drawn from the Directorate Criminal Investigation (DCI) to stop raiding government offices.
During campaigns, the former Mathira MP also expressed dissatisfaction with the blue police uniform, which he noted did not fully represent the law enforcement officers.
"You have suffered so much in the hands of Matiang'i and Kibicho. Even the new blue uniform that you don't want will be revoked and we return to the old one. The blue one will be left for the church. It is the uniform of women's guild," Rigathi stated during a campaign rally.
Already, DCI boss George Kinoti resigned paving way for the appointment of his replacement. Police IG Hillary Mutyambai on the other hand proceeded on terminal leave.
