New civilian staff locked out of jobs in police bosses' row

Fifty-one civilian staff hired by the National Police Service Commission (NPSC) were on Tuesday locked out of their offices at Jogoo House following a directive by a senior police officer.

In what appears to be a renewed fight between Inspector General of Police Japhet Koome and NPSC Chairman Eliud Kinuthia, the new civilian staff who were reporting to work for the first time yesterday were turned away at the gate.

NPSC had conducted interviews for civilian staff to be seconded to the National Police Service in various capacities.

Among the officials who have received their employment letters are directors of different departments that include procurement, legal and finance dockets.

The new staff were yesterday scheduled to meet the National Police Service Administrative Secretary Bernice Sialaal.

But when they arrived at the Office of the President at Harambee House, AP officers manning the gates turned them away.

The decision to lock out the new staff has prompted a protest from Kinuthia who, in a statement, accused Koome of overstepping his mandate.

According to Kinuthia, Koome had protested the hiring of the new staff, claiming the hiring had not been endorsed by all the commissioners of the police service commission.

But Kinuthia, who spoke to The Standard on the phone, said the IG had ignored all meetings of the commission called to deliberate, among other issues, the hiring of civilian staff to be seconded to the police service.

"We have executed our constitutional mandate," Kinuthia said in response to the standoff.

Efforts to reach Koome or National Police Spokesperson Dr Resla Anyango were futile as they both did not respond to our calls.

This latest clash between Koome and Kinuthia comes only months after another fight over promotions within the police service.

Last July, Interior Cabinet Secretary Kithure Kindiki, who appeared before the committee of Parliament, said it was regrettable the public spat between NPSC and the IG.

Prof Kindiki told MPs that both Koome and Kinuthia risked being cited for breach of the Constitution by seeking to resolve a matter beyond their reach by playing to the public gallery.

The CS said that despite the difference between the two offices on the interpretation of their mandates, the duo ought to handle matters pragmatically.

"In my view, the Cold Act amounts to a violation of Chapter Six, notwithstanding the complaints. Public display of discordance of institution crucial for security is a violation of Chapter 6 of the Constitution, undermines the rule of law and high level of irresponsibility," the CS told the MPs.

Koome and Kinuthia have differed on who has the mandate to promote police officers.