Ruto to present strategic framework for police reforms

President William Ruto will on Wednesday unveil a comprehensive strategic framework to guide the implementation of the report on conditions of service in the National Police Service, Prisons and National Youth Service.

Officials said the development of the strategic framework would follow the successful implementation of the recommendations, which should be included as a priority in the first phase of implementation.

The Taskforce of Chief Justice (ret.) David Maraga presented its report to President Ruto in November last year.

The future strategic framework will guide the remaining phase of the implementation process.

The framework, which will guide the team in ensuring effective implementation, will cover areas spanning leadership across the three services, including oversight and accountability, institutional capacity development and human resource management and development, and operational readiness and logistical capability.

The strategic framework, which provides a clear implementation structure and roadmap, was developed in consultation with the National Treasury, the Salaries Remuneration Commission (SRC) and the Public Service Commission (PSC).

“We are also bringing development partners to the table to support some of the projects and programmes mentioned in the recommendations,” said Interior Minister Dr. Raymond Omollo.

The President had ordered that the report be implemented promptly and fully.

This step is the latest in the implementation of the proposed reforms and is intended to improve service delivery.

A national, interagency team was formed to lead and initiate the implementation process.

The National Inter-Agency Steering Committee, chaired by the Ministry of Home Affairs and the National Administration, includes senior officials from the Ministry of Public Service, the National Treasury, the Salaries and Remuneration Commission (SRC) and the National Police Service Commission (NPSC).

These include officials from the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA), the Public Service Commission (PSC), the National Youth Service (NYS) Council, the judiciary and the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC).

Under Omollo’s chairmanship, the committee began its work by evaluating the report’s at least 200 recommendations.

Recommendations were developed that could be implemented through administrative measures without the need for financial resources.

During this phase, the service charters of the three services were reviewed and service standards were developed.

“Staff training and sensitization with a focus on the new service standards and far-reaching service delivery reforms have begun,” said Dr Omollo.

The PS noted that implementation of this phase of reforms stands at 65 percent in the NYS, 42 percent in the Kenya Prisons Service and 37 percent in the NPS.

The complaint handling processes of the three services were reviewed in accordance with the Task Force’s recommendations.

One of these recommendations concerns a new base salary system for New York State police, prisons and civil servants.

Interior Minister Prof. Kithure Kindiki appointed a National Steering Committee to oversee the implementation of the reforms.

In order to implement the far-reaching reforms, the government needs a whopping 108 billion shillings.

The report identified specific problems such as political influence in the NPS, corruption in recruitment and promotion, the police training curriculum, an inadequate National Police Service Commission (NPSC), the role of the Cabinet Secretary for National Security and the structure of the Internal Affairs Unit (IAU) in the police force.

Presenting the report, Maraga called for political goodwill in implementing the recommendations, saying that similar proposals had been made before but never implemented.

“It also became clear that the reform proposals have little chance of being implemented if the leadership problems are not addressed,” Maraga said.

By emphasizing transparency, professionalism and community engagement, we can not only transform policing, but also restore trust between law enforcement and the people they serve.

The Task Force found that one of the main challenges in assessing and setting remuneration for the services was the use by the Salaries and Remuneration Commission of inappropriate tools and the failure to recognise that the mandate and nature of the work of these services was unique and different from that of the general public service in terms of, among other things, decision-making processes, risks and disruption to family life.

The team recommended the creation of a “Discipline and Security Services Sector” comprising the Kenya Defence Forces (KDF), National Intelligence Service (NIS), NPS, KPS and NYS as a separate budgetary sector.

The team recommended increasing the base salary of members of the three services at the lowest police level by 40 percent, with a decompression factor based on current salary.

The introduction of salaries has already begun. For non-uniformed NPS members, the Task Force recommended a new allowance to improve their service conditions, given their working environment.

To counteract complaints of embezzlement, the Task Force recommended that payment of all allowances be automated and immediately transferred directly to the officers’ bank accounts. For the NPS Airwing (NPSAW), the recommendation to reinstate them came as a relief.

The team recommended that the Police Aviation Squadron be immediately returned to the sole control of the NPS, but that the restored Aviation Squadron should be operated in strict compliance with the Kenya Civil Aviation Authority (KCAA) standards of maintenance and airworthiness, including the qualifications, training and relevant accreditations of professionals serving in the NPSAW.

The Task Force called on Parliament to provide sufficient resources and budget for the efficient and optimal operation of the NPSAW.

Alternatively, the Task Force recommended leasing police aircraft in the same way as police motorised road transport.