Power Struggle: NPSC and Inspector General Clash, Leaving 1,000 Police Promotions in Limbo
A standoff between the Inspector General of Police and the National Police Service Commission has resulted in the suspension of over 1,500 promotions for police officers.
Even though the commission has nullified the IG’s promotions, the police chief is preparing to fight and has warned his officers against accepting the commission’s offers. What does the law say, however?
The promotion of approximately 500 police officers on June 5 is the most recent development in the protracted struggle for supremacy between the National Police Service Commission and Inspector General of Police Japhet Koome.
The promotions of both national and regional high-ranking officers were initiated by the Inspector General’s office and forwarded to the National Police Service Commission for ratification and action.
However, not only did the commission decline to act on the notice of promotion, but it also nullified the promotions.
In a letter dated 6 June 2023 and signed by the commission’s CEO Peter Leley, the promotions are deemed unlawful and non-procedural because the IG lacks the legal authority to make such pronouncements.
The NPSC also warned the promoted officers against using their new ranks, as doing so would subject them to personal liability.
The commission then proceeded to solicit fresh applications and considerations for 514 positions.
In a swift rebuttal last week, the inspector general issued directives prohibiting his officers from applying for the advertised positions.
In his statement, the IG ordered all officers to disregard the advertisement and threatened any officers who dared to apply with disciplinary action. Even though the IG and his deputies are also commission members, this is the case.
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This dispute between the two parties is not new. In the past, the head of the police service and the police service commission have clashed over the performance of specific duties. Stakeholders attribute this to gray areas in the allocation of specific duties to the head of the police service and the police service commission.
The National Police Service Commission derives its powers and functions from Chapter 14 of the Constitution, which states that the commission shall recruit and appoint persons to hold or act in offices in the service, confirm appointments, and determine promotions and transfers within the National Police Service; exercise disciplinary control over and remove persons holding or acting in offices within the Service; and perform any other functions prescribed by national legislation.
In contrast, the National Police Service Act requires the Inspector General of the Police to implement policy decisions, audit police operations and functioning, coordinate all police operations, prepare budgetary estimates and develop a policing plan, determine the establishment and maintenance of police stations, posts, outposts, units, or unit bases in the county, and determine the boundaries of police stations, outposts, or unit bases.
While the commission and IG continue to flex their muscles, the fate of 500 police officers up for promotions hangs in the balance, as it is unclear who will have the final say in this latest battleground for the two national security entities.
Power Struggle: NPSC and Inspector General Clash, Leaving 1,000 Police Promotions in Limbo
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