Technical committee gazetted to lead legislative reforms for National Police and NYS

The Ministry of Interior has appointed a Technical Committee to review and develop legislative policy reforms for the National Police Service (NPS) and the National Youth Service (NYS) in the next nine months.

The Technical Committee will analyse the policy and legislative reforms as proposed in the Report of the National Taskforce on Improvement of the Terms and Conditions of Service and other Reforms for Members of the National Police Service and National Youth Service and provide legal advice on proposals for legal reform.

Consequently, the committee led by State Counsel Kepha Onyiso (Chairperson) will be tacked with amongst others drafting amendments to the NPS, NYS, National Police Service Commission (NPSC), Independent Policing and Oversight Authority (IPOA) and Public Order Management Acts by the recommendations of the Taskforce.

According to the gazette notice, the team also comprised of Musita Anyangu (Vice Chairperson) and Mr Charles Otieno a Technical Advisor will also be required to draft the National Forensic Science Laboratory Service Bill, the Security and Disciplined Services Uniform Committee Bill and the Security Services Remuneration Advisory Board Bill and submit a final report to the Ministry of Interior.

It will further be tasked with drafting the National Policing Policy, Community Policing Policy and Public Order Management Policy to be forwarded to the Attorney-General for further action.

Its other members appointed to the committee include; Marion Muriithi (Office of the Attorney General), Seth Masese (Office of the Attorney General), Seko Brenda (Office of the Attorney General) Olivia Simiyu (Office of the Attorney General), Buhere Jay Sikuku (Office of the Attorney General), James Nombi (Kenya Law Reform Commission), Susan Kamau (Kenya Law Reform Commission) and Mr Maurice Okoth, Rogers Marindi and Dickson Magosti all from the Ministry of Interior.

"The duration of the Technical Committee shall be a period of nine (9) months with effect from the 23rd August 2024, and the Cabinet Secretary may extend the duration of the Technical Committee for such a longer period as may be necessary for the completion of its terms of reference," the notice states.

The formation of the committee is yet another step in the implementation of Justice (Rtd) David Maraga reforms that are aimed at improving the welfare of members of the NPS, NYS and the Prisons Service.

The task force made a total of 598 specific areas of reforms including 271 recommendations for the police service, 210 for NYS and 117 for the prisons service.

A National Inter-Agency Steering Committee formed to spearhead the implementation process further narrowed down the 598 recommendations to 291 that could be implemented through administrative action without financial implication.

The Committee led by Interior Permanent Secretary Dr Raymond Omollo includes senior officials of the Ministry of Public Service, the National Treasury, Salaries and Remuneration Commission (SRC), NPSC, IPOA, Public Service Commission (PSC), NYS Council, the Judiciary, the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) among others.

The agency identified 177 other recommendations requiring funding to implement, with the Ministry declaring that Sh108 billion is needed to bridge that financial gap. A gap that it hopes to fill with the assistance of development partners.

The Maraga taskforce submitted its report to President William Ruto in November last year after which he directed that they be implemented in full and in line with his campaign promises while seeking office.

The reforms will be implemented in four years between 2024 and 2028 in line with the strategic framework guiding the process.