Interior Cabinet Secretary Kithure Kindiki on Tuesday, June 20, revealed that he intervened to resolve a fierce dispute pitting the National Police Service (NPS) against the National Police Service Commission (NPSC) over 507 police promotions effected by the former.
Appearing before the National Assembly's Departmental Committee on Administration and Internal Security, Kindiki called for the regularization of recruitment, emphasizing that the exchange of words between the two institutions was a violation of the constitution, particularly the articles pertaining to leadership and integrity.
"There is no great erosion of public confidence than the exchange of words between the two institutions concerning recruitment," he added.
Kindiki disclosed that as a result, he had held in-depth private meetings with the leaderships of the two institutions to resolve the issue that had elicited widespread debate.
"I made it clear that what the two institutions were engaged in was a violation of the constitution and I told the IG and the commissioners that the conduct can give a basis for removal from office through a tribunal," he stated.
He emphasized that the root of the problem lay in the interpretation of the responsibilities of the two institutions. To address the problem, he requested the assistance of Attorney General Justin Muturi in ensuring a comprehensive understanding of the roles of NPS and NPSC in accordance with the constitution.
According to the CS, the National Police Service Act and the National Police Service Commission Act gives the two institutions conflicting roles and responsibilities.
The promotions made by the IG Japhet Koome were also contested by the Law Society of Kenya (LSK) with President Erick Theuri accusing Koome of violating the constitution.
"The actions by the IG amount to a serious violation of the constitution and is grounds for removing the Inspector General from office. The Law Society is apprehensive that the actions of the Inspector General will create confusion," he stated.
Theuri on Monday, June 19, threatened to file a petition to oppose the promotion of the officers.
According to NPSC chairman, Eliud Kinuthia, Koome bypassed the law with the appointments. He, therefore, rejected the promotion of the National Police Service Spokesperson Resila Onyango, as well as the elevation of several other officers.
In retaliation, Koome asked officers not to apply for the promotions advertised by NPSC on Friday, June 9, adding that he will give the way forward on how the process will be conducted.
"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 directed.
