The Shoe Reminder: DP Ruto says a police council will snatch away police independence

NAIROBI, Kenya, Oct 26- The Building Bridges Initiative report (BBI) proposal to disband the National Police Service Commission and replace it with a Kenya Police Council chaired by a Cabinet Secretary, will take away police independence, Deputy President William Ruto has said.

Speaking during the launch of the report at the Bomas of Kenya on Monday, the Deputy President cautioned against taking away the independence of the police, over the risk of being misused in the future by politicians.

According to the BBI report, the Council is meant to “end wrangles between the Inspector General of Police and the Commission.”

But the Deputy President said he had reservations on that.

“Today, you may have the latitude to do what you think is right by you. Tomorrow, the shoe will be on the other foot,” he said.

“The 2010 constitution was very clear that the police act independently of any politicians, whether they are in government or in opposition. To recommend a police council shared by a CS, it is actually a derogation from the independence of police. We must be careful on where we are going.”

The council, if the report is adopted, will be responsible for policy coordination of the National Police Service and perform any other function prescribed by national legislation.

The abolishment of NPSC, the report says, will provide clarity on the centrality of command control by the Inspector General of Police.
“The National Police Service Commission is removed as a commission and replaced by the Kenya Police Council to oversee policy and command functions of the National Police Service in collaboration with the Inspector General of Police,” reads the report.

The council to be chaired by Interior Cabinet Secretary will consist of IG and two senior members of the National Police Service units appointed by the President and Interior Principal Secretary as members.

IG, the report says, will exercise independent command over the service, determine police transfers, recommend officers for promotion, and discipline errant officers.