Police officers taking part in the vetting process have developed ingenious ways to cushion themselves against possible removal from office.
Speaking during a week-long sensitisation exercise at the General Service Unit (GSU) base in Embakasi, National Police Service Commission (NPSC) chairman Johnstone Kavuludi said officers have formed saccos while others have opted for early retirement.
Kavuludi said the second phase of vetting will involve traffic officers, criminal investigations officers, Officers Commanding Stations (OCSs) and their deputies.
“Some have now formed organisations and chamas where they save money as a way of preparation to help them in the event that they fail in the vetting process,” he said.[ad id="178821"]
Kavuludi, who said officers who fail in the process will be removed from the service, nonetheless assured that serious thought will be put prior to dismissal of any officer. “Before we come to the point of removal of service of an officer, we consult widely,” he said.
Over 12,000 officers countrywide are expected to be vetted in the second phase where they are expected to present wealth declaration forms, bank statements (both theirs and their spouses), certificates of appointment, and national identification cards.
He said the reason why many officers were apprehensive fears is because the vetting exercise is the first for many and will look into the integrity, honesty and any violations of human rights such as police brutality, extortion and extra-judicial killings.
The NPSC chairman added that the board will also determine whether a person is competent and what the public says about them will also serve as reason for finding them suitable for promotion.
Kavuludi acknowledged that there have been numerous complaints from members of the public about officers managing weighbridges, with many accusing them of corruption.
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