President William Ruto has announced plans to set up a task-force to review police welfare.

Speaking during the country’s 59th Jamhuri Day celebrations at Nyayo National stadium in Nairobi on Monday, December 12, President Ruto said the task-force will be in place by the end of the year.

The team is expected to lead a review of the police welfare.

President Ruto said that recent changes in the police service had begun to bear fruits.

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He cited the move to grant the police service financial independence which he said was necessary and will go along in ensuring that there is efficiency, professionalism and accountability in the police body.

“On my first day in office, I also executed the necessary instrument to actualize the financial independence of the National Police Service in the realization that this is the substantive enabler of genuine institutional independence.

“The operational independence of the police is necessary for its efficiency, professionalism and accountability,” Ruto said.

Enhanced Welfare

The President said the police service has successfully re-oriented policing operations from a heavy and illegitimate reliance on illegal and extra-judicial interventions, to improved vigilance and relationship with the citizens.

Ruto says previous policing operations frequently entailed intolerable violations such as abduction, torture, disappearance and murder.

“There is now consensus that a new policing paradigm is at hand, and it is possible to achieve a high level of security for our citizens and also observe their rights and freedoms to the greatest extent,” he said .

“I, therefore, commend the entire national police service, from the constable on the beat to the Inspector-General, for the enthusiasm with which they have embraced the changes and enhanced our general security through increased vigilance and improved relationships with citizens and their communities.

“Before the end of the year, I will be appointing a task-force to review the terms of the police service.”