Acting Inspector General of Police Noor Gabow has applauded the commitment by President William Ruto to give the National Police Service financial autonomy.
Though a statement released on Wednesday, September 14, Gabow stated that the move will transform the National Police Service.
“We wholeheartedly welcome this move, since this autonomy shall go a long way to empower the Service plan ahead and provide services in a timely, proactive and transformative way,” he said.
Moreover, in his first address on Tuesday, September 13 as head of state, Dr. Ruto said the order will see the Inspector General become an Accounting Officer for funds allocated to the police.
Likewise, the president noted that the constitution allows the IG to exercise independent command over the NPS.
However, according to president Ruto, the operational autonomy of the office of IG has been undermined by what he described as the continued financial dependence on the Office of the President.
“As I address you, I have instructed that the instruments conferring financial autonomy to the National Police Service by transferring their budget from the Office of the present and designating the Inspector General as the accounting officer be placed on my desk for signature this afternoon,” stated the President.
Furthermore, the Head of State pointed out that financial independence of the police will motivate them to fight against corruption and end the political weaponization of the criminal justice system in the country
Similarly, the President assured all public servants that his administration will respect their professional service. He further added that the era of intimidation had ended.
“No public servant, not even chiefs and their assistants will be required to run political errands for any political party or formation,” he said.
Nevertheless, during his campaign period, President William Ruto criticized what he described as misuse of the National Government Administration Officers by the state for the benefit of certain politicians and was highly opposed to the participation of public servants including Cabinet Secretaries in campaigns.
As a result, his stand put him on a collision course with some Cabinet Secretaries who had sworn their political allegiance to his main challenger Raila Odinga.
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