KENYA POLICE REFORMS BILL.

Stakeholders in the security industry want an Inspector General, who will head the new National Police Service, to be a serving or retired officer. The stakeholders, who included senior police officers from Regular and Administration Police, and the civil society met yesterday and scrutinised the final draft of the National Police Service Bill. The draft says that the Inspector General must have a university degree, working experience of 10 years in either Government finance and public administration, policing or criminal justice system. The draft Bill, which was based on recommendations of the Justice Philip Ransley Commission, has been amended following demands from stakeholders. An earlier one did not have minimum requirements of the holder of the new office, which security expert Simiyu Werunga said may allow unqualified people to lead the force. The majority of those who talked at the forum held at KICC, Nairobi, recommended that the holder must have proven knowledge of police officers’ internal and external operating environment. Lawyer Harun Ndubi and Werunga pushed for scrapping of Part Six of the draft Bill, which recommends the formation of the Association of the County Police Commanders. AP Commandant Kinuthia Mbugua and other senior officers concurred, saying the new police outfit would be a national body. The stakeholders also called for the scrapping of Part Seven of the Bill, which proposes the formation of County Policing Authorities. Others questioned the roles of both the Regular and Administration Police, demanding that they be clearly indicated. The forum was organised by the Police Reforms Implementation Committee to discuss the Bill before it is taken to Cabinet and later to the House for enactment. Article 245 of the new constitution also talks of an Inspector General appointed by the President with Approval of Parliament. He will enjoy a security of tenure for four years and is not eligible for re-appointment.