The National Assembly Public Accounts Committee (PAC) has ordered Inspector General of Police (IG) Douglas Kanja and National Police Service (NPS) accounting Officer Bernice Sialaal Lemedeket to immediately surrender all human resource (HR) functions, especially control of the payroll, to the National Police Service Commission (NPSC).
This directive follows revelations that the NPS had blocked both the Commission and the Office of the Auditor-General from reviewing its payroll for the financial year ending June 2023, raising serious concerns over transparency and accountability.
“Inspector-General and the Accounting Officer of the National Police Service, we are directing you, particularly the Accounting Officer to immediately hand over all human resource functions, especially the payroll to the commission immediately,” said Butere MP Tindi Mwale, who chairs the committee.
“You are not just to grant access, but to formally and fully hand them over to the Commission. This should be done without delay do not say it will take a week; it must be done as soon as you return to your office, and put in writing,” Mwale added.
Mwale made the remarks on Tuesday as the committee reviewed the audited report of the National Police Service Commission for the financial year ended June 2023.
He ordered NPSC CEO Peter Kiptanui Leley to write to the Committee to confirm that he has received the HR functions of the Police.
Besides, Mwale said IG Kanja will appear before the Committee in two weeks to confirm compliance with the directives,
“Additionally, I want the CEO of the Commission to write back to the Public Accounts Committee immediately upon receiving these functions, confirming that you are now in a position to execute your constitutional mandate. And in two weeks, you will appear before us again to confirm compliance,” he said.
NPS & NPSC Relationship
The sentiments come amid an ongoing debate over the proper implementation of constitutional mandates within the NPS, as lawmakers push to reinforce the independence and oversight role of the NPSC in handling human resource functions.
Mwale advised the NPS to have a cordial relationship with the commission, saying that all Kenyans will be happy when they don’t see tiffs and fights between the two entities.
“IG Douglas Kanja, hanging onto functions that don’t belong to you could land you in unnecessary trouble. Hand them over to the Commission so it can do its job. Once that happens, even our national security will benefit, because recruitment, promotions, and HR matters will be handled professionally, as the Constitution intends. This is now the ruling of the Committee. All accounting officers must comply, no debate,” he ruled.
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Supressing NPSC CEO
Committee members raised concerns over attempts by some commissioners to “close the eyes and mouth of the CEO, preventing her from speaking the truth.”
“The committee only listens to the accounting officer, who is the CEO. Commissioners cannot mislead or attempt to contradict the CEO’s statements,” he ruled.
IG Kanja found himself on the spot over allegations of refusing to hand over the payroll function to the NPSC, with members of the committee accusing him of insubordination.
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Kanja Pledges to Hand Over the Payroll
In his defence Kanja said he is a member of the NPSC and the NPS fully cooperates with the Commission.
Kanja stated that the NPS will hand over the payroll to the Commission immediately.
“We cooperate fully with this Commission, and let’s not forget that I am also a commissioner. I’m a member of that Commission. If for any reason the Commission does not have the payroll, they should actually be able to access it immediately,” Kanja said.
Aldai MP Maryanne Kitany emphasised that matters relating to police welfare, payroll, recruitment, promotions, and other HR functions must be fully managed by the Commission, as provided for in law.
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