The Directorate of Criminal Investigation (DCI) has clarified how National Police Service officers should utilize Social Media platforms.
This comes after an officer was captured on video collecting bus fare while wearing police uniform.
In the viral video, the officer who goes by the name Afande Denno on his social media platforms was captured inside an overcrowded bus moving from one seat to another, requesting fare from passengers.
Afande Denno, is a TikTok user and a content creator who records and shares his daily activities on the platform with an aim to foster peace between the police and Kenyans.
The DCI in a statement on June 10 said the National Police Service (NPS) standing order states that members of the Service shall not identify themselves either directly or indirectly on social media sites as employees of NPS.
“Personal use of social media order sets standards that shall be followed when NPS employees use social media in a private capacity, especially if they identify themselves as NPS employees either directly or as part of a user profile, or if they can be identified as working for the Service via the content of their posting,” the DCI said in a statement.
“In posting to social media sites in a private capacity police officers shall be clear it is a personal opinion and avoid posting material that may bring the Service into disrepute, or otherwise embarrass the government.”
Also to note, DCI said the NPS, Kenya Police Service, Administration Police Service logos are an important visual for Service and crucial to its brand awareness and identity and the logo shall be used only in official communication and purposes within the guidelines spelt out in the communications and brand manual.
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Other Guidelines Highlighted by DCI
Additionally, a police officer identifiable as such who posts offensive, racists, tribal, or obscene material on their personal social media site, shall be in breach of public office and police employment order and shall be subject to a disciplinary procedure.
Consequently, an officer may be demanded to remove any material posted on social media if uncertain whether such posting would amount to a breach of the law and seek advice from a senior officer.
The conduct further states that Police officers as public citizens shall have the right to enter into public debates and comment on social, economic or any other issue.
However, any comment shall be made strictly as a private citizen and be separate from and avoid any reference to matters of or employment with the National Police Service.
Furthermore, the conduct stipulates that a police officer contacted by the media about posts on their social media sites that relate to whole Service or part, shall talk to their superiors and the police media relations office before responding.
Also Read: Truth Behind Police Officer Collecting Bus Fare from Passengers
The DCI also stated that Police Officers should not put to the public any unauthorized or confidential materials including training videos, police notes, and suspect’s interview videos which discloses police methodology to the public.
They are further prohibited from providing comments on, suggestions or hints at matters that are likely to be currently under investigations.
Also, Social media groups shall be operated by well-known account administrators or by group members and such groups registered to the respective media relations office at the respective Service headquarters. Improper associations and media.
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