President Ruto appoints former Chief Justice Maraga to head taskforce on police welfare

Former Chief Justice David Maraga. [Wilberforce Okwiri, Standard]

President William Ruto has appointed a 20-member task force to review police officers' welfare in the country.

The task force will be chaired by former Chief Justice David Maraga, deputised by Carole Kariuki.

Members of the task force include Moffat Kangi, John Ole Moyaki, Ibrahim Guyo, Richard Kirundi, Elizabeth Mueni, Roseline Odede, Joash Dache, Doreen Muthaura, Albert Mwenda, and Terry Chebet Maina.

Others are Hassan Sheikh Mohamed, Capt. (Rtd.) Simiyu Werunga, Mutuma Ruteere, Anne Ireri, Stephen Kayongo, Jafaar Mohamed, Sammy Chepkwony, Khadija Mire.

The team's joint secretaries are Omwanza Ombati, Joy Mdivo Masinde, and Rosemary Kamau.

In a gazette notice dated December 21, Ruto said the National government seeks to prioritise the security sector and its emerging challenges.

"Whereas the ongoing reforms build on past efforts aimed at tooling and retooling of our security organs, Kenya seeks to make our security organs more capable of addressing the security challenges that the country faces," the President said.

The task force will among other duties access and recommend improvement of working and living conditions of police officers and identify and recommend legal, policy, administrative, institutional, and operational reforms in the National Police Service (NPS) and Kenya Police Service for effective service delivery.

It will also "review and recommend improvement of police welfare in all cadres of the NPS and KPS and all other matters incidental to the optimal service delivery by the NPS and KPS."

The Maraga-led committee will review and recommend any other matter incidental to improved terms and conditions of service and other reforms in the NPS and KPS.