The National Police Service Commission (NPSC) Disciplinary Committee on Monday announced that it set to kickstart disciplinary hearings for police officers in a move geared at enhancing accountability and keeping law enforcement officers in check.
Speaking when NPSC commissioners visited the General Service Unit (GSU) Embakasi B and Magadi Field Campus, the agency's Chairperson Edwin Kinuthia disclosed that the hearings will target cases involving senior police officers in the rank of Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) and above.
The countrywide exercise will be conducted within four days.
Kinuthia indicated that senior officers drawn from the Kenya Police Service (KPS), Administration Police Service (APS) and Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) would be investigated.
According to the National Police Service Act, complaints against senior officers can be brought before the disciplinary committee by; a member of the public, a fellow officer, or a state organ.
“An anonymous witness statement or other statement made for another investigation not necessarily commenced for purposes of police service matters,” the Act adds.
During the 4-day disciplinary hearing, statements will be collected from the complainant, any witnesses available, and from the officer being accused.
After the lapse of the four days, the committee will make recommendations to the Inspector-General of Police Japhet Koome on the disciplinary action to be taken.
The disciplinary committee will consist of; the Deputy Inspector-General of the Service to which the accused officer belongs, two members representing the Kenya Police Service, and two members representing the Administration Police Service.
If the officer being investigated is from DCI, one of the two members representing the Kenya Police Service shall be from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations.
While recommendations from the hearing will be forwarded to IG Koome for appropriate action to be taken, an officer aggrieved by the decision may apply to have the findings reviewed by the commission.
Officers who will be found guilty can be reprimanded, suspended, or confined to barracks or police residential quarters.
“While an officer is interdicted or suspended, the officer's powers, privileges and benefits shall be suspended, but the officer shall continue to be subject to the discipline and penalties as if the officer had not been interdicted or suspended,” the Act states.
Other forms of punishment that can be recommended by the disciplinary committee include; a reduction of salary by not more than one-third of basic salary for a period not exceeding three months, a fine not exceeding a third of basic salary, an order of restitution, or stoppage of' salary increments for a specified period but not exceeding one year.
If the gravity of the offense is high, the committee will recommend a reduction in rank or dismissal from the service of the said officer.
