Reprieve for 37,000 officers as NPSC halts vetting

More than 37,000 police officers have been saved from the fear
of vetting following new National Police Service Commission chair Eliud
Kinuthia’s directive on Tuesday.

Speaking to journalists in Mombasa, Mr. Kinuthia said NPSC
came into effect in 2012, when these officers were already in service.

Kinuthia gave hope to about 300 officers who were vetted by
former NPSC chair Jonston Kavuludi, giving them a “second chance” to reform.

“There are about 300 officers who were working with a lot of
worry because reports of their vetting are not yet out,” said Kinuthia.

He added that none of the officers vetted was found culpable,
suitable or unsuitable but has a chance to do better.

“But I want to announce here today and tell those officers
not to be worried and should be settled and work. None of them has been found
to be suitable or unsuitable. They now have a chance to do better,” added Kinuthia.

The chair said despite this reprieve, vetting will continue
in police service for appraisals, and will be conducted with the help of stake
holders including, Office of the Director of Public Prosecution, the
Independent Policing Oversight Authority, the Ethics and Anti-Corruption
Commission (EACC), among others.

“Vetting will be there as normal. We will now be doing it in
collaboration with other security stakeholders who will also share information
about the conduct of those officers that we intend to assess,” said the chair.

Rogue police cases have been on the rise in the country,
with over 40 officers arrested and arraigned in the court of law for the past few
months.

In September, about five police officers were arrested in an
incident which saw Sh72 million robbed from a bank in Nairobi West.

Police Spokesman Charles Owino said police misbehavour is aggravated
by unfit individuals who are ‘pushed by their parents to join the service.’