National Police Service Commission meeting to discuss new ranks, structure

Inspector General of Police David Kimaiyo (right) and the Criminal Investigations Director Ndegwa Muhoro during a press conference in Nairobi.

The National Police Service Commission (NPSC) is meeting in Malindi to plan for the restructuring of the service and appointment of officers to new ranks.

Before heading to the meeting, Inspector General of Police David Kimaiyo went to Lamu where he addressed residents' concerns over the extension of a dusk-to-dawn curfew.

It emerged the meeting was moved to Malindi to ensure the Deputy Inspector General of Administration Police Samuel Arachi attends and votes on the proposed resolutions.

The commission could not have met the needed quorum of six commissioners as per the amended law hence the need to move to Lamu, where Arachi is based. The deputy IG is leading an operation following an attack in June that left more than 100 people dead and others displaced.

The commissioners including Kimaiyo and his deputy for regular police Grace Kaindi are to discuss the new ranks and other administrative matters.

NPSC Chairperson Johnstone Kavuludi, commissioners Murshid Mohamed, Mary Owuor and Ronald Musengi and the Directorate of Criminal Investigations boss Ndegwa Muhoro will also attend the meeting.

Sources at the IG's office said the meeting was facilitated following growing anxiety among officers.

virtually broke

According to reports, lack of funds has also affected the commission's operations because the Sh278 million it was allocated for operations has been exhausted.

"The commission is virtually broke and that is why the IG's office came to its aid. We do not know why the Government is not facilitating it yet it is at the level of the Parliamentary Service Commission, Judicial Service Commission and the Public Service Commission," said a source.

According to plans, all police county commanders would be of the rank of commissioner of police in the changes to come. Then at national level, there would be around 40 officers of the same rank.

10 slots would be available for the Senior Assistant Inspector General who will be in charge of directorates at the national headquarters of the Administration Police and the regular police.

According to the new structure, they would be deputised by less than 38 assistants. The NPSC has so far identified officers to fit into the ranks.

Most officers feel the changes should be effected fast.