A section of graduate police constables are an aggrieved lot complaining of discrimination in remuneration by the National Police Service Commission (NPSC) led by Johnstone Kavuludi.
In a letter addressed to the National Treasury, Inspector General of Police Joseph Boinnet and the commission, the officers grumble over the fact that some of their colleagues with whom they graduated at the same time have already had their pay increased. This is despite them submitting their degree certificates, testimonials and transcripts to the commission and their certificates verified, certified and audited at the same time.
This, they say has subjected them to lower rating by fellow officers in the disciplined forces and unending mockery.
The graduates are now rethinking their future with the National police service with some looking to make a living in the private sector.
They are afraid that committing their futures to the service will have them living like beggars and be declared as pecuniary embarrassed.
The graduate officers lament over their growing debts with banks and saccos.
“…most of us are currently earning low income as we are servicing huge bank and Sacco loans that we took to further our studies for delivery of better and professional services,” the letter reads in part.
The graduate police constables are asking for fair treatment in terms of “pay benefits, promotions and responsibilities” from the government which they have worked so hard for.
In July, a section of graduate police officers complained that the Service was deliberately sidelining them when it comes to job promotions.
Read: How Grace Kaindi Was Summoned to Mombasa Then SACKED from the Kenya Police
An officer who spoke to the Standard, said that the Service favoured Form Four leavers who quickly move up the ranks.
Another graduate officer told the daily that there lacks a legal framework for the promotion of these officers, with most promotions based on tribe and blood relations.
Only recently did Boinnet protest against a move by the Salaries and Remuneration Commission (SRC) to pay graduate police officers house allowance equal to that of officers under the ran of Inspector of Police.
The IG wants SRC to reward the officers, not based on qualification but rank.
The proposal by SRC would have seen graduate police officers receive a house allowance of Ksh41,000 or more in Nairobi and Ksh17,000 or more in the other regions.
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