The National Police Service Commission (NPSC) has cancelled all the recently approved merit-based promotions announced by acting Inspector General of Police Gilbert Masengeli.
Addressing the press on Thursday, the commission's chairperson, Eliud Kinuthia instructed the acting IG to temporarily suspend the promotions pending the appointment of a substantive Inspector General.
The decision is seen as part of a move to address widespread concerns among some officers.
“This will enable the settling down of those promoted and stabilisation of command in the various service formations and units on NPS,” he stated.
A total of 1,957 police officers (1, 870 males and 87 females) in the age bracket of 53-59 years with no disciplinary mistakes had been approved by the commission for promotion on merits to various ranks.
The commission sanctioned the promotions following complaints of stagnation of officers in the same rank.
This was a move to motivate them as approached their mandatory retirement age.
Promotions for the cadres are, however, set to proceed as planned.
For Gazetted officers, the commission stated that it has approved a total of 186 promotions for officers in the rank of Chief Inspector of Police (CIP) who are set to climb to the rank of Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP).
The officers completed their promotion courses recently and August 30, and the interviews are planned for the end of this month.
For an officer to be considered for promotion to the rank of Superintendent of Police, the police service promotion guidelines require that he or she must sit an examination and attend a six-month mandatory training course, popularly known as the Higher Training Course (HTC).
For the NCOs and Inspectorate, which are officers in the rank of Police Constable (PC) and Chief Inspector of Police (CIP), the commission approved a total of 1,189 officers for promotions.
This is in a bid to address command gaps as a result of exits from service due to natural attrition and reduction in strength.
Those to be promoted to various ranks are 31 Chief Inspectors, Inspector (88), Senior Sergeant (24), Sergeant (98), Corporal (319), and Police Constable (629).
“The Commission confirmed the existence of vacancies in the NPS establishment, evaluated the justification for the need, criteria for the merit and budgetary implications,” said Kinuthia.
This was agreed upon during a meeting held on September 3, he said.
During the same meeting, he said, the Commission received a recommendation for the promotion of five (5) Gazetted Officers to the ranks of AIG(3), SSP(1), and SP(1).
“These promotions were equally determined and approved, among other promotions for civilian staff of NPS, including fingerprint officers, human resource officers and office administration officers,” he stated.
