The National Police Service Commission (NPSC) has concluded the two weeks police vetting exercise for officers based in the former Rift Valley Province.
The exercise that was taking place at Nakuru attracted a total of 328 officers whom according to the NPSC Chairman Johnston Kavuludi were attached to traffic.
“In the last 10 days, we were able to vet 328 traffic police officers from the rank of constable to the chief inspector. So far a total of 919 officers have undergone the exercise but we are expecting to vet 2480 traffic officers across the country,” he said.
Kavuludi admitted there have been malpractices especially in the promotion of officers. He said plans are underway to ensure that the officers are promoted on merit following the guidelines by the commission.
“We have noted the promotion challenges addressed by the officers during the vetting. Under the new reforms, it will be very hard for an officer to be recruited as a constable and retire in the same rank. We are developing a scheme of work where the commission will promote officers on merit,” Kavuludi added.
He lauded the government for improving the welfare of officers by giving them medical covers and insurance covers to meet their bill for injuries they may get in the line of duty.
He confirmed that once the vetting exercise has been concluded across the country there will be reforms in the police service as those found unfit will be removed from the service especially the corrupt officers.
“We are issuing certificates for those who pass the vetting exercise and dismissal letters to those found unfit to serve. In many instances, we get information from the public that officers demand bribes and that is what we want to establish,” he said.
So far 80 have been found unfit but 63 appealed and reinstated while 17 are still pending for reviews. He said the names were submitted to the anti-corruption agency (EACC) and human rights commission (KNHRC) to defend Kenyans whose rights were violated by the officers. Once the review is through, he said the officers will be removed from the service.
The NPSC Chair lamented the high number of mobile transactions made by officers and termed it as tax evasion and asked the communication agencies come up with mechanisms to curb what he termed as 'economic sabotage'.
“Many officers have transactions of more than a million in a year. The commission cannot deal directly with the M-Pesa agents but I see these are ways of evading tax which in the near future will cripple our economy,” he continued.
The officers vetted so far are those based at the Coast, Nyanza, Western and the Rift Valley. Kavuludi said the commission will pitch its tent at Nairobi, Central, Eastern and North Eastern in the coming months to streamline the police service.