Inspector General of Police Japhet Koome has directed all police officers not to apply for promotions after his fallout with the National Police Service Commission. (NPSC)
Highly-placed sources within the service intimated to Kenyans.co.ke on Sunday, June 11, that IG Koome sent internal circular ordering members of the National Police Service to ignore an advertisement that had been released by the commission on Friday, June 9.
Koome ordered the police to keep off the job opportunities advertised in local dailies by the commission, stating that they should wait for communication from his office on how such opportunities will be handled.
“My attention has been drawn to an advertisement contained in the local dailies inviting members of the national police to apply for the vacancies outlined.
"I, therefore, direct that all officers under your respective commands should be informed to ignore the advertisement and that any officer who fails to heed the directive may face disciplinary sanction," Koome ordered.
The source revealed infighting between the Office of the Inspector General of Police and the Chairman of the National Police Service Commission, stating that the two have no bad blood, but IG Koome felt like he should be in control of the service.
"I cannot comment on how promotions and job opportunities should be handled at the Service, but it's clear that the National Police Service is headed by Inspector General, and he should be allowed to play his role in that police," a senior police officer stated.
On Friday, June 9, NPSC called on Senior Police Officers to apply for a number of promotions, including those that IG Koome had filled a day before the advertisement. The position were estimated to be 500 in total.
“The Commission hereby invites applications from qualified police officers to fill the following positions at the National Police Service,” read the advertisement in part.
While assuring the candidates of fairness during the recruitment process, NPSC explained that anyone who met the requirements was qualified to apply for the opportunities.
The NPSC CEO also noted that the promotions must reflect Kenyans’ diverse communities so as to grant equal employment opportunities to men and women, members of all ethnic groups and persons with disabilities.
Prospecting candidates had been advised to carry their National Identity Card, academic and professional certificates and transcripts during interviews, and meet the requirement of Chapter Six of the Constitution of Kenya 2010, in the event they will be shortlisted for interviews.
In what would be deemed as a show of power, Peter Leley, the Commission CEO, stated that Executive Order No. 1 of 2023 of January 6, 2023, recognised the independence of the National Police Service Commission and National Police Service.
He noted that IG Koome should not try to usurp powers bestowed upon the National Police Service Commission, to which he was an employee.
Leley maintained that IG Koome must adhere to the dictates of Article 232(1) of the Constitution which demands that the NPSC conducts itself in a manner that promotes transparency within the service.
On Monday, June 5, IG Koome promoted National Police Service Spokesperson Resila Onyango and Nairobi Regional Police Commander Adamson Bungei to the position of the Assistant Inspector General of Police (AIG).
Koome also promoted the Head of Investigations at DCI Abdallah Komesha, General Service Unit Commandant Eliud Lagat, and Deputy Director of DCI Nicholas Kamwende to the rank of Senior Assistant Inspector General of Police (S/AIG).
NPSC Chairman Eliud Kinuthia on Tuesday, June 6, warned that the officers who had been issued with promotion letters without the input of the commission may be subjected to a disciplinary undertaking for obeying unlawful orders.
“They (police officers) can choose whether to wear the illegal ranks but they should know that they will be held individually accountable," Kinuthia stated.
