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State committed to police reforms for motivated and professional officers - Ruto

Ruto said he's keen on restoring operational and financial independence of the police service

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by EMMANUEL WANJALA

Realtime17 March 2025 - 16:15
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In Summary


  • President William Ruto pointed out that there is demonstrable progress in the modernisation of police equipment.
  • He spoke when he received the End-Term Report of the second National Police Service Commission at State House, Nairobi.
President William Ruto receives the End-Term Report of the 2nd National Police Service Commission at State House, Nairobi, March 17, 2025. /PCS

The government has reaffirmed its commitment to implementing far-reaching reforms to ensure the police officers are motivated, well-resourced, and professional.

President William Ruto pointed out that there is demonstrable progress in the modernisation of police equipment as he received the End-Term Report of the second National Police Service Commission at State House, Nairobi.

"We want to make sure that police officers who put their lives on the line have the protection, equipment, and backing of the government," Ruto said.

The commission led by Eliud Kinuthia was appointed in March 2019 for a six-year non-renewable term.

It took over from the inaugural commission that was led by Johnston Kavuludi.

Kinuthia was deputised by Dr Alice Otwala with John ole Moyaki, Eusebius Laibuta, Dr Lilian Kiamba, and Edwin Cheluget as commissioners.

The President commended the team for their contribution to police reforms and the human resource management of the police service.

"Your stewardship has yielded undeniable improvement in recruitment processes, career progression, discipline enforcement, and the welfare of our officers," he said.

Key achievements of Kinuthia's team include the recruitment of 10, 982 police officers and 1,128 civilian staff, as well as the automation of the recruitment process.

The commission also determined more than 16,000 promotions, 26,000 transfers, 1,400 disciplinary cases, and 700 appeal cases.

They also implemented the recommendations of the Maraga Report on terms and conditions of service by salary review and implementing phases one and two of salary increments, which boosted morale in the rank and file of the service.

Kinuthia thanked the President for defending the commission against a proposal in the collapsed Building Bridges Initiative (BBI), which would have seen the commission replaced with a Police Council.

"Had this amendment seen the light of day, the net effect would have been permanent abolition of the commission and the tenets upon which the commission was established by the Constitution," he said.

The President said one of his first tasks upon taking office was to restore the operational and financial independence of the police service.

"In my consideration, it was what was going to make a difference between running a professional service and one influenced by other considerations," he said.

Present during the handing over of the end-of-term report were Deputy President Kithure Kindiki, Interior CS Kipchumba Murkomen, Inspector General of Police Douglas Kanja, deputy IGs Gilbert Masengeli and Eliud Lagat, as well as Directorate of Criminal Investigation (DCI) Director General Mohamed Amin.


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