National Police Service Commission (NPSC) yesterday clashed with MPs after they demanded a list of its recruits. 

The MPs, who sit on the National Cohesion and Equal Opportunities Committee, directed NPSC Chief Executive Peter Leley to table the names of Kenyans hired in the ongoing recruitment to establish whether there was ethnic balance. 

The committee’s vice chairperson and Kasipul MP Charles Were told the CEO that the committee wants to verify whether ethnic balance was met before appointment letters are issued. 

He said: “For the committee to establish whether you have used the ongoing recruitment to correct the anomalies in ethnic balance you will be required to submit the list to the committee for verification.” 

But Leley declined, noting that there is nowhere in the recruitment procedures that allows him to submit the list of recruits to the committee. 

The legislators did not take the CEO’s sentiments lightly as they accused him of being a hostile guest of the committee. 

Mandera West MP and committee chairperson Adan Yusuf Haji told the CEO that the committee has powers to compel any witness before it to submit documents on matters under investigation. 

He added: “Your tone is disrespectful to the Committee. You can oppose what the Committee wants from you but in a respectful manner. 

Kisumu Central MP Joshua Oron and his Ndhiwa counterpart Martins Owino told the CEO to comply with directives from the committee noting that his defiance would cost him. 

Said Owino: “The committee is being diplomatic in addressing you but the direction you are taking will not be good for you. If you insist on not complying with the directive it is well with us.” 

The questions came after Leley, in his submission to the national cohesion committee, noted that only 24 sub-tribes were employed by the Commission.