Civilian to head police force

By Cyrus Ombati

The National Police Service Commission has left open chances of a civilian to lead the police force as an Inspector General.

Those who want to lead the police force have until October 29 to apply for the positions of Inspector General and two deputies.

One of the three holders of the positions has to be a woman.

According to an advert to appear in the paper, those seeking to be IG, must hold a degree from a recognized university in Kenya, be Kenyans with knowledge and experience in either criminal justice, policy development and implementation, finance and public administration, security, law, sociology or government.

The candidates must also meet Chapter Six of the Constitution on integrity.

The same applies to candidates seeking to be appointed to the position of Deputy Inspector General.

But anyone seeking to serve in this position of DIG must be a serving police officer of or above the rank of superintendent and have had experience in police for at least 15 years.

The deputies of Inspector General will head both regular and administrative police. If the IG is a man, either of the deputies must be a woman, the advert states.

Requirements

The candidates for the positions will be required to present clearance certificates from Ethics and Anti Corruption, Kenya Revenue Authority, Director of Public Prosecutions, Higher Education Loans Board, Credit Reference Bureau and a certificate of good conduct.

“Names of all applicants and the interview schedule of those shortlisted shall be published in the print and Kenya Gazette,” reads part of the advert.

 Some police officers have been opposed to the proposition of appointing a civilian to lead the force.

 The new Constitution bars any State officer from giving instructions to the Inspector General or officers under him.

The holder of that office shall operate independently, and will only take instructions from the Cabinet Secretary responsible for the services, who will be allowed to give direction to the IG with respect to any matter of policy for the National Police Service.

But even then, such instructions must be in writing and in line with the law.

“No person may give direction to the IG with respect to the investigation of any particular offence (s), enforcement of the law against any particular person (s) or the employment, assignment, promotion, suspension or dismissal of any member of the National Police Service,” article 245 (4) of the new laws says.

 Inspector General role

The IG shall implement policy decisions, audit police operations and functioning, co-ordinate police operations and command the two forces.

He or she will determine the distribution and deployment of officers in the service and recommend to the commission the County policing authorities.

The commission chairman Johnston Kavuludi says they intend to recruit and recommend to the Principals the names of the holders of the office by December.

“With our workplan, we intend to be through by December and if there will be any form of delays, it may come from the executive or Parliament,” he said.

Kavuludi added they intend to also advertise the position of the Director of CID by early in January as part of the recommended reforms.