No witch-hunt in police vetting, Kimayio
Inspector General of Police launched the police vetting process on Monday with an assurance to his charges that no one will be victimized in the process.
Thirty two senior police officers at Vigilance house, the police headquarters, are expected to be scrutinized alongside 80,000 others in an 18 – month vetting process intended to eliminate rogue elements from the force.
The process will take place at the Kenyatta International Conference Centre beginning Tuesday.
The senior officers to be vetted include General Service Unit Commandant Atswenje Sayia, Deputy Commissioner of Police Patrick Ochieng who is also in charge of the Small Arms and Light Weapons Unit, Abdi Omar Shurie of the Administration Police Training College, Joseph OleTIto who is in charge of the Kenya Airport Police Unit and Mr Rodgers Mbithi of the Police Airwing.
Others are Senior Deputy Commissioners of Police, Peter Kavila, Koskei Johnathan Kipkirui and Peter Elaini.
Standing orders
The Inspector General said the process will be used to eliminate officers who have flouted the police standing orders during their period of service.
“This is an exercise that has been going on since the formation of the National Police Service Commission. It is not a new thing,” Mr Kimaiyo said.
He said the process will help in restoring confidence in the police, adding that only credible officers will remain in office.
On Saturday, the Chairman of the National Police Service Commission, Johnstone Kavulundi through a newspaper advert, asked members of the public and institutions to give out information which may help in determining the suitability and competence of the 32 senior police officers.
The commission requested for information that will assist it determine whether the senior officers are fit to hold positions force.
During the launch of the exercise, Mr Kavulundi said that the vetting process will be credible and help create an effective database with all information about all the police officers.
“This is part of the ongoing police reforms and we expect good results at the end of the exercise” Mr Kavulundi said.