The stalemate surrounding who between the National Police Service Commission (NPSC) and the National Police Service (NPS) should manage the Sh60 billion payroll for the officers came to haunt President William Ruto’s nominee for chairperson of the commission Amani Yuda Komora (pictured).

Komora, who appeared before the Committee on Administration and Internal Security chaired by Narok West MP Gabriel Tongoyo for vetting, was taken to task on how he would address the matter once he takes over office.

The MPs said the matter has brought confusion in the police service. Tongoyo asked Komora what he intends to do following the admission by NPSC that NPS was yet to hand over the payroll.

Further he sought to know how he would deal with corruption, especially in the coming police recruitment.

Committee vice chairperson and Saku MP Dido Raso sought to know why corruption was rampant yet public servants are remunerated well.

Komora whose net worth stands at Sh102 million said that the issues surrounding the payroll should be addressed in a pragmatic manner internally.

Although he was not clear of the actions he would take should he take up the said position, he explained that he will try to address the issues between the two entities to ensure that they support each other.

Well facilitated

According to him, the issues facing the two entities at the moment should largely be to ensure that officers are well facilitated in all aspects, including training, welfare, promotions among other components and thus assured that he ensures that each entity undertakes its respective mandate.

The other nominee Angeline Yiamiton Siparo who has been appointed as a member of the commission and whose net worth stands at Sh113 million insisted on the need for a comprehensive programme, adding that she will use her experience as a human resource professional and counsellor to add value to the service.

Meanwhile, a lobby, Sheria Mtaani and lawyer Shadrack Wambui have filed a petition in court challenging the alleged takeover of the police payroll by Inspector General of Police (IG), terming it unconstitutional.

The case pits the National Police Service (NPS) against the National Police Service Commission (NPSC) in a dispute over who should control the NPS payroll.

Unilateral control

Through lawyer Danstan Omari, the petitioners accuse the IG and the NPS of unilaterally assuming payroll management — a role they argue the Constitution, under Article 246(3), assigns exclusively to the NPSC.

They contend that the payroll administration is more than an accounting function, describing it as a key mechanism for implementing recruitment, promotions, transfers, suspensions, interdictions, and disciplinary measures.

They warn that unilateral control by the IG risks alteration or deletion of payroll records, undermines due process, frustrates disciplinary proceedings, and poses a national security threat.

According to court documents, the dispute was first made public on August 4, 2025, and had earlier been raised before the National Assembly’s Public Accounts Committee (PAC), which directed the IG to hand over payroll management to the NPSC, citing its role as the employer of police officers.

Despite this directive, the petition alleges that the IG has continued to control the payroll.

The petitioners are seeking conservatory orders to restrain the IG and the NPS from altering or managing the payroll pending determination of the case. They also seek declarations that payroll management is a human resource function within NPSC’s mandate,.

Sheria Mtaani has urged the court to treat the matter as extremely urgent, warning that, there could be administrative paralysis, erosion of public confidence in police governance, and irreversible harm to constitutional structures.