Wednesday, September 18, 2013

Police reforms spark security fear

Police officers in a parade. Impending police reforms has raised security fears as a large number of the law enforcers might be sacked for failing the vetting process. PHOTO/FILE

In Summary

• Various commissions have implicated the police in atrocities
• Officers who are sacked could be rehabilitated and made part of community policing
• The Civil Society called for a fair and credible vetting process.

By STEPHEN MUTHINIMore by this Author

The impending police reforms has sparked security fears as a large number of officers might be sent home for failing the vetting process.

Some police officers, addressing the Independent Medico-legal Unit and the Police Reform Working Group forum in Nyeri, expressed fears that the vetting may lead to mass sacking of law enforcers posing a security threat to the nation.

“There has been claims that some police officers collude with criminals, will a big number of police officers sent home not pose a security threat?” asked one of the officers.

But Mr Joseph Muthuri, a program officer with the Independent Medico-Legal Unit said there was no alternative to vetting as that was the law.

Various commissions have implicated the police in atrocities such as the aiding and abetting of violent clashes during general elections in 1992, 1997 and 2007.

The findings of the Commission of Inquiry into Post-Election Violence of 2007-2008(CIPEV) found that almost half of the people who lost their lives died of gunshot wounds.

Mr Muthuri said they had explored various scenarios as members of the civil society and made recommendations to the National Police Service Commission which will carry out the vetting.

He said the officers who are sacked could be rehabilitated and made part of community policing in the counties together with other retired officers.

Ms Faith Allubbe, an official from FIDA-Kenya urged the police to embrace the vetting process as it was not a negative exercise as perceived.

“Every public officer will be vetted. This is not a negative process as has been portrayed in the media. It is meant to improve the working conditions since those who successfully go through it will be able to ask for better terms now that they are qualified,” said Ms Allubbe.

She said some of the recommendations they had made to the Commission include a requirement that those who will be unsuccessful after the vetting process should forfeit their terminal benefits as they will have wasted public funds and time.

RESIGN

The recommendation, if adopted, is meant to make officers who know they have committed crimes resign in advance to save time and resources.

Ms Allubbe observed that the vetting process had delayed since it was envisaged to take three years and end before the next general election.

Those who successfully go through the process will continue serving while those who fail will have their jobs terminated. In addition, those found to have committed gross human rights violations will be recommended for prosecution.

The Civil Society at the same time called for a fair and credible vetting process. They said the process should be governed by clear principles and use specific sources of information for a just outcome.

Personal record files, complaints from commissions such as the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights, Ethics and Anti-corruption Commission, Non-Governmental Organisations, complaints from the public and fellow officers are some of the tools to be used in the vetting.

Ms Allubbe said the process should encompass the principle of natural justice and give a chance to the accused to be heard.

The forum brought together senior Police officers, civil society, local leaders and some members of the clergy.