A team to recruit the new members of the National Police Service Commission (NPSC) was sworn into office with a call for integrity in the process.
The commission chairman is also being sought. Their recruitment may take up to two months after which a recruitment drive for police will be announced.
The former commissioners led by Eliud Kinuthia exited office after the expiry of their six-year term. A selection panel was on Monday February 17 sworn into office to start the process of recruiting the new commissioners.
The seven-member panel comprises of Arhur Osiya (Executive office of the President), Moses Serem (Judicial Service Commission) and Prof. Marion Mutugi (Kenya National Commission on Human Rights). Others are Dr. Cecilia Mutuku (Ethics and Anti-corruption Commission), Thomas Okoth (National Gender and Equality Commission) Judith Walubengo (Public Service Commission) and John Karani.
Public Service Commission Vice Chairperson Mary Kimonye, urged the selection panel for appointment of members of the NPSC to be committed to the values and principles of public service as envisaged in the Constitution. Kimonye said this when she presided over inaugural meeting for the selection panel of members at Commission House, Nairobi.
She reiterated the need for the panel to ensure the process is discharged in an efficient transparent, and fair manner.
“To enhance public confidence in the key area of recruitment there is need to adhere to the values and principles herein,” she said.
The outgoing commissioners had had a controversial tenure with squabbles among them. For instance, Kinuthia publicly differed with former police boss Japhet Koome on the operations of the service.
This was prompted by among others promotions within the service. The quarrels derailed several police operations amid efforts to address them.
It forced top officials at the ministry of interior to summon the police bosses and commissioners for meetings in efforts to address the issues at hand.
The main functions of the commission include to recruit and appoint persons to hold or act in office in the police service, confirm appointments and determine promotions and transfers within the National Police Service.
They also observe due process, exercise disciplinary control over and remove persons holding or acting in offices within the service.
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