Government Bows To Activist Omtatah’s Pressure To Suspend Police Housing Directive

The ministry of interior has accepted Human rights activist Okiya Omtatah’s move to temporarily suspend President Kenyatta’s police housing directive.

According to a memorandum of understanding reached between the two parties on Tuesday, the government will continue housing junior officers until September 13, 2019.

The agreement is set to be tabled formally on Friday before Justice Chacha Mwita.

The ministry is reported to have assented to Omtatah’s proposal that the Ksh9,000 allowance recommended for police officers especially those living in cities like Nairobi could not afford them a decent housing.

Early this year, the Inspector General of police Joseph Boinnet directed that junior officers living in government houses, leased houses, police camps or lines needed to vacate by February 13.

However, the move was opposed by a section of junior officers in Nairobi who felt the housing allowance was not enough.

The activist had moved to court to seek temporary orders to stop the National Police Service (NPS) from effecting the September 13, 2018, presidential directives.

He argued that the President did not have the powers to change police uniforms, rebrand colleges or introduce housing allowance, saying the directives were in violation of several provisions of the Constitution.

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According to Omtatah, only the Inspector General of Police had the power to issue such directives.

According to the president’s September directive, house allowances for police constables in Nairobi county were to be paid Sh18,124 per month. Those in Mombasa, Kisumu, Nakuru, Meru, and Uasin Gishu were expected to receive Sh13,124 per month.

To effect the new policy, Mr. Kenyatta directed the National Treasury to terminate all leases with landlords within 90 days and the officers asked to enter into private tenancy with property owners.

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