Police, prisons, and NYS officers to get a 40% salary increase
Members of the National Police Service, Kenya Prisons, and National Youth Service will get a 40 percent salary increment.
President William Ruto said the National Taskforce on Improvement of Terms and Conditions of Service and other Reforms for members of the services had recommended the increment of the salaries to be spread over three years.
He told the Salaries Remuneration Commission to embark on measures to make the necessary adjustments for the same.
The report by the task force recommended the review of the pay, medical cover, and welfare of the members of the services.
The team led by former Chief Justice David Maraga handed over the report to Ruto at State House in Nairobi after almost a year of its work.
The report recommended the alignment of the three services to the security sector.
Ruto said some of the recommendations need parliamentary legislation and may take longer while others will be implemented immediately.
The report, according to Ruto cited corruption as a major issue in the three services that need to be addressed.
The report says there will be two entry points into the National Police Service, which include constable and cadet levels.
This is aimed at addressing leadership issues in the services.
In the NPS, the National Police Service Commission will determine the requirements for the two pathways.
”At a time when crime is constantly evolving, this provision will attract more professionals to police service,” the President said.
The report says the National Police Service transfer policy that no officer should remain at one station for more than three years be enforced.
“I assure our policemen and women of our commitment to improving the police service, including their remuneration and other terms of service,” Ruto said.
Maraga said there are leadership challenges that must be addressed in the services for them to deliver their mandates.
He said they had recommended that there be a person appointed to oversee the implementation of the recommendations made in the report.
“We recommended that there be a person appointed to oversee the implementation of the report so that it does not fail to be implemented like the other past similar ones,” he said.
The team was appointed on December 21, 2022.
The task force was mandated to identify the constraints on effective service delivery by NPS and KPS was to come up with a report to be used as a work plan for implementation.
Ruto said perennial welfare challenges continue to compromise the efficacy and ability of the police, NYS, and prisons to effectively deliver on their solemn mandate.
The president said there is a compelling public interest in institutionalizing welfare reforms of our internal security organs whilst also fostering the citizen-facing service elements of the National Police Service whose pace of reform matches public expectations.
It was also to review the human capital management and development policies with a view of examining and reviewing standards and practices in recruitment, deployment, transfers, training, career progression, performance-based and competitive promotions, reward, exit, and post-exit management and recommend implementation of changes that enhance morale, meritocracy, and professionalism in the NPS and KPS.
It was also to recommend a review of the remuneration of members of the NPS and KPS and consideration of new and applicable allowances to the NPS and KPS to enhance professionalism, efficiency, and effectiveness of the NPS and KPS and assess the adequacy or otherwise of the current medical scheme for the NPS and KPS and recommend comprehensive reform or revision of the same with a view of improving it.
The Maraga team was to assess and recommend the establishment of funds or schemes to cater for loss of life or injuries in the line of duty, terminal illness including mental health illness, and possible legal and administrative framework to cater for NPS and KPS officers’ dependants.
It was further to assess and recommend improvement of working and living conditions of members of the services and assess the adequacy or otherwise of the current housing policy for members and where appropriate, recommend a review of the same including the recommendation for a housing mortgage for officers.
It was to examine all capacity-building measures including training curriculum, syllabus, continuous development training, and reward measures.
They were to also recommend reforms including the incorporation of incentives for police and prison officers especially the lower cadres to address professionalism, motivation, and retention.
Police, prisons, and NYS officers to get a 40% salary increase
