police reforms

POLICE REFORMS. JANE MUGAMBI 7TH NOV 2013. Three civil society groups have come out to educate members of the public on ways of transforming the police force to a service. Rights promotions and protection centers, Independent Medico Legal Unit (IMLU) and Katiba Institute programme coordinators said public participation has not been embraced well when vetting is being done. Eunice Oloo Rights promotions and protection centers acting coordinator said that the role of citizens in the transformation process has not been felt and that they have not been involved in vetting process and other engagements. She also said that the proposed guidelines, proposals were adapted well but the exercise has been moving on slowly. “The exercise(vetting) is moving very slowly but we are anticipating that the guidelines and the proposals that we gave the National police force was adapted but we have noted that the public has not been involved in a satisfying way” said Eunice. She also added that the guidelines entail integrity, education level, whether they have been engaged in human violating, corruption. Eunice however urged members of the public to stop waiting so much from the government saying that it has very many issues that is implementing, they(public) take part in transforming the police force by playing their part of being watchdogs in making them(police) be accountable of their deeds. Sandra Ochola programme associate at Katiba Institute said that human resource has been a problem for long citing that a 40 year problem cannot be effected within 2 years. She said that there is no proper bench markings made in ensuring that the guidelines are followed to the latter. She also said that the slow pace in transforming the police has come up due to the wrangles that are between National police service chairman Johnstone Kavulundi and the Inspector general David Kimaiyo. “We expect that some effects will be felt ones the wrangles between Kavulundi and Kimaiyo are over, the 40 years personnel issues cannot be dealt with within 2 years, Kenyans have to be patient and also take part in ensuring that the police are responsible for what they are doing” said Sandra. She said that the civic education is going on in the country revealing that there is a group that is in Naivasha that is working on the vetting tools. Ends…