Raila Odinga addresses a gathering. He has accused President Kenyatta of abusing his powers after making changes in police redeployment. [Photo/File]
NASA leader Raila Odinga has once again waged another war with President Uhuru Kenyatta, accusing him of abusing his powers.
The opposition chief saying Kenyatta ‘misused’ his powers, when he made reshuffles involving top police officers last week.
Odinga says it is the mandate of the National Police Service Commission and the Independent Policing Oversight Authority to make such changes.
“The open recruitment further paints a pattern of systematic undermining of supposedly independent constitutional offices in a bid to cement dictatorship and resurrect personal rule,” Mr Odinga said in a statement.
Joel Kitili (Regular Police), Samuel Arachi (Administration police) and Ndegwa Muhoro (Director of Criminal investigations) were redeployed by the head of state, with their positions taken by Edward Njoroge Mbugua, Noor Yarao Gabow and George Maingi Kinoti, respectively.
President Kenyatta indicated that he acted on advise from the relevant bodies before making the changes.
However, Odinga said Kenyatta undermined what they fought for; a constitution that must be respected by all.
“The spirit of the Constitution and the mood of the people of Kenya is that the National Police Service and indeed all independent constitutional offices must remain independent particularly of the presidency and free from political interference,” said Mr Odinga.
“We do not hold any brief for any of police officers who have been dropped. We equally have nothing against the officers appointed to replace them. We, however, feel firm that the spirit of our hard-won Constitution must be respected and that nobody must sneak back into the country the personalisation of the State and its organs,” he added.