Nairobi, Kenya: Three senior police officers were Friday retired by their employer after failing to pass the first phase of the vetting process.
National Police Service Commission chairperson Johnston Kavuludi
Senior Deputy Commissioner of Police Francis Okonya, Senior Deputy Commissioner of Police in charge of police reforms Jonathan Koskei and Senior Deputy Commissioner of Police in the office of the Inspector General of Police Peter Eregae were retired for being unsuitable after the vetting exercise.
They are the first casualties of the exercise that was conducted in December to check on their suitability to be service.
Those who survived included General Service Unit (GSU) Commandant William Saiya, Kiganjo Police Training College Commandant Peter Kavila, the Director of the Small Arms Secretariat John Patrick Ochieng and Abdi Shurie of the Administration Police Training College.
The National Police Service Commission made the announcement yesterday after looking into the officers’ performance.
“We have informed all the affected officers on how they performed and those not happy with our verdict can appeal,” said commission chairman Johnston Kavuludi.
The applicable vetting standards included officer’s satisfaction of entry and training requirements, their professional conduct and discipline, integrity and financial probity, and respect for human rights.
Those removed from the service will however, have the opportunity to appeal the panel’s findings during vetting review which is composed of the NPSC members, Retired Justice Sarah Ondeyo, former Deputy Director of the Kenya Anti-Corruption Authority John Mutonyi among others.
The vetting process was the first of its kind and is aimed at checking on the suitability of the officers in service.
Kavuludi said vetting of other senior police officers is set to kick off next week as planned.
This came out after the Commission told Senior Assistant Commissioners of Police and Assistant Commissioners of police in both regular and Administration Police to return their vetting tools by next Tuesday.
The officers were informed to return the forms to Skypark offices of the commission in Westlands ahead of their vetting.
The vetting of 26 Deputy Commissioners of Police will start on Monday before that of 66 Senior Assistant Commissioners of Police and 115 Assistant Commissioners of Police start.
Plans are that it will run for four to six weeks.
Apart from the public questioning, the officers were supplied with a kit which among others sought to establish if the police officers have ever been involved in activities of illegal groupings, cartels, banned societies and political parties.
Those who have money stashed in foreign accounts were required to give details on the same.
The applicable vetting standards included officer’s satisfaction of entry and training requirements, their professional conduct and discipline, integrity and financial probity, and respect for human rights.
Officers who satisfy the Commission with regard to competence and suitability will be retained and those who do not will be removed from service.
The officers who have been successful in the vetting will automatically be named to the rank of Senior Assistant Inspector General of Police (SAIG) in a new structure.
A new structure for the service has directorates at various levels.
By Cyrus Ombati, The Standard
