Interior Cabinet Secretary Kithure Kindiki has confirmed a truce between the Inspector General of Police Japhet Koome and the National Police Service Commission (NPSC).
In a statement on Thursday, Kindiki revealed that the two entities, the National Police Service (NPS) headed by Koome and NPSC led by Eliud Kinuthia, had amicably resolved their differences and will work in tandem.
"The Inspector General of the National Police Service exercises independent command and control over the Service and performs any other function prescribed by national legislation," stated Kindiki.
"While the Inspector General(IG) of Police can not be directed by any person with respect to the investigation of any offence and enforcement of the law against any person, the Cabinet Secretary for Interior and National Administration may lawfully direct the IG with respect to any policy matter."
The two entities publicly clashed in June this year after IG Koome directed all NPS members not to apply for promotions advertised by the commission.
The IG sent out the circular, which was obtained and reported on by Kenyans.co.ke, a day after NPSC gazetted the openings on June 9.
At the time, 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," the circular read at the time.
"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."
The fighting at the time centered around NPSC's call for senior officers to fill vacant positions including some that Koome had filled a day before. The fallout then morphed into a supremacy battle with the IG believing that he should be able to exercise control over the service.
In the latest truce, Kindiki noted that the policy that the IG should be ready to listen and take advice on includes the transfer of police officers who have served in one station for at least three years.
While appearing before the National Assembly Committee on Constitutional Implementation Oversight Committee (CIOC), Kindiki directed that all police officers who have been within the same police station should be transferred within 60 days.
He noted that salaries for those who resist will be frozen.
