Police, Prisons personnel pay to match NIS, military chiefs
By Print Reporter, November 20, 2023Salaries of police and prisons officers are scheduled to be harmonised with those of their counterparts in the military and intelligence services.
That is one of the recommendations contained in a eport copiled by a taskforce headed by former Chief Justice, David Kenani Maraga (pictured) taskforce.
As a result, officers in the National Police Service (NPS), Kenya Prisons Service (KPS) and the National Youth Service (NYS) are scheduled to get a 40 per cent salary increment over the next three years.
And in a radical move, the Justice (rtd)team wants the immediate disbandment of the Eliud Kinuthia led National Police Service Commission (NPSC) as the only option to end the incessant friction between the Commission and the Inspector-General of Police.
Negotiated exit
In the circumstances, the Taskforce has been left with no option but to recommend that Government considers initiating a negotiated exit, or any other legally recognised modality, for the current NPSC commissioners.
The Maraga team has made far reaching recommendations that would see the three services being docketed under the security services umbrella that also comprises military and intelligence.
It also made radical recommendations to address the endemic corruption within NPS and KPS, as well as on the improvement of their current “horrendous” housing.
Receiving the report yesterday at State house, Nairobi, President William Ruto said he has directed for the immediate alignment of the terms and conditions of service for NPS, KPS and NYS with the Kenya Defence Force (KDF) and the National Intelligence Service (NIS).
Besides the salaries, the President directed the Interior, Treasury, Attorney General, the Inspector of Police (IG) and other relevant government agencies to review the pay, living conditions, medical cover, housing and other aspects of welfare for members of the services.
“Review legislative and policy framework governing operations within the NPS, KPS, NYS to ensure better service to Kenyans, greater accountability, transparency, respect for the rule and integrity, and the subordination of these critical security services to civilian oversight and authority, in line with our deepening democratic credentials,” the president disclosed.