National Police Service starts recruitment drive for Internal Affairs Unit to boost oversight
By Mary Wambui |
These vacancies arose after former IG Japhet Koome arbitrarily transferred 50 officers from the unit, leaving it understaffed and unable to fulfil its mandate.
The National Police Service has begun the process of recruiting additional officers to its internal oversight unit, the Internal Affairs Unit (IAU), days after Inspector General of Police Douglas Kanja approved the initiative to facilitate the prompt investigation of cases filed with the Unit.
According to an internal advertisement, the unit is seeking to fill 60 positions for officers at the rank of Chief Inspector and below.
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Most of the applicants will be appointed as investigators, while others will take on roles in security, statistics, ICT, communications, records management, and other areas.
Candidates applying for these roles must have a minimum of five years of experience in the service.
"They should have no disciplinary offences recorded against them. For investigators, they must have completed an investigations course or have worked in the crime branch for at least five years," the notice states.
Applicants have until November 15 to submit their applications, accompanied by their CVs and relevant certificates.
"Shortlisted candidates will undergo intensive interviews. Computer literacy will be an added advantage," it adds.
The service encourages previous applicants to reapply.
These vacancies arose after former IG Japhet Koome arbitrarily transferred 50 officers from the unit, leaving it understaffed and unable to fulfil its mandate.
The directive, seen as an attempt to weaken the unit, was reversed last week when IG Kanja ordered the recruitment of 50 additional officers from within the service to replace those arbitrarily transferred by his predecessor in April.
The removal of these officers had left the unit critically understaffed, with transferred colleagues unable to manage the sensitive cases the unit is tasked to investigate, including police misconduct.
The IG stated that the recruitment would prioritise officers skilled in investigation.
This recruitment drive is part of broader efforts to ensure police accountability, as recommended by former Chief Justice David Maraga.
Before relinquishing his duties to Acting Inspector General (IG) Gilbert Masengeli, Kanja, then an IG nominee, issued a directive to all police commanders across the country, urging them to implement 14 points of action as part of the reforms proposed by the Task Force to improve the service.
The directives included mandatory oversight of police uniform procurement to ensure proper equipment for police operations, revamping community policing structures, and establishing disciplinary committees that reflect Kenya’s diversity.
"It is important that these directives are followed as we advance with the implementation process," Kanja noted in a memo dated 27 July.
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