The National Police Commission (NPSC) on Thursday, February 2, proposed the creation of a special allowance for pregnant officers as part of its recommendations to the Police Reforms Task Force led by Retired Chief Justice David Maraga.
NPSC called for the creation of a gender-responsive allowance to be identified as the Maternity Dress Allowance to assist expectant officers in their pregnancy and post-delivery period.
Further, the commissioners led by Chairperson Eliud Kinuthia underscored that the reforms should focus on putting money in the pockets of police constables and other civilian staff serving in the National Police Service.
The commissioners proposed a 79 per cent increase in the basic salary of police constables expected to increase their pay from Ksh 20,390 to Ksh 36,450.
NPSC noted that the increment was aimed at compensating for the years police constables went without a review of their salaries.
The constables and all officers serving in the National Police Service will also stand to enjoy a leave allowance of an amount matching their monthly salary should the proposal get the approval of the task force and the government.
"The Commission proposed a new gender-responsive police allowance called maternity dress allowance for pregnant women police officers. In addition, a leave allowance of one month’s salary and an extraneous allowance for PC to SSGT ranks at 50 per cent of the basic salary," read a statement from the NPSC.
In addition, the NPSC members tabled a raft of proposals touching on the constitution of the commission and the service in the future.
Among the recommendations was a policy that would see the position of the Inspector General rotate through the Kenya Police Service, the Administration Police Service and the Directorate of Criminal Investigations sub-divisions.
“The commission recommends a policy on rotational headship and rise to the top command of the IG- NPS from among the constituent service of NPS i.e KPS, APS & DCI," the commission noted.
Additionally, the commission observed that it is unconstitutional to have a disciplined NPS member become the commission's chairman. As such, the commissioners maintained that the chairman's position is a preserve of civilians and occupants should be selected competitively in line with the dictates of the constitution.
NPSC's recommendations formed part of the views-collecting exercise spearheaded by the Maraga-led task force. The process, according to the government, will inform the criteria for reviewing terms of service for all officers in the service.
