- DCI further said, like in any other progressive institution, the resignation of staff to pursue other interests is provided for.
- However, most officers are demoralised because of various reasons including poor working conditions and low pay.
Image: FILE
The recent increased resignations at the National Police Service have sparked major speculations among members of the public.
Insiders said up to 40 officers have in the past three weeks resigned from the service.
Some of those who resigned include seven officers attached to the Directorate of Criminal Investigations.
In a statement to newsrooms, the DCI denied claims they were forced to resign under 24-hour notice.
“The officers reported to have resigned were not forced to leave the service as alleged,” DCI said.
DCI further said like, in any other progressive institution, the resignation of staff to pursue other interests is well provided for in the NPS, under the Service Standing Orders.
The detectives who were based at different specialised units within the Directorate left to pursue careers in the private sector as financial investigators, fraud experts, IT specialists among others, the statement added.
This came as police headquarter said they are facing challenges in processing requests for resignations on the 24-hour notice rule.
Deputy Inspector General of police Edward Mbugua said in an internal memo on September 9 that any resignations must be accompanied by a self-explanatory letter.
The resignation letter should also be accompanied by a copy of the latest pay slip, a letter from the Kenya Police Sacco, Harambee Sacco or bank explaining how one will settle any loan taken and a forwarding letter from the respective command.
The police service loses an estimated 1,500 officers every year, but it is those who leave for greener pastures that have caused an alarm in the law enforcement team.
And to guard against the brain drain, the National Police Service Commission in 2016 directed that new officers be bonded for 10 years, meaning they cannot leave the profession before the lapse of the period.
Recruits who may want to join the NPS and then resign before serving for ten years are to be forced to pay the government Sh1.2 million.
The commission argued the government uses an estimated Sh1.2 million in training one officer.
These are part of efforts being made to retain officers in the service.
However, most officers are demoralised because of various reasons including poor working conditions and low pay.
On Tuesday, President Willam Ruto ordered the Inspector General of police to be allowed to manage funds for the NPS.
He said the current scenario where the IG gets his budget through the Office of the President has been undermining the independence and autonomy of the office.
“This situation is going to change. I have instructed that the instruments conferring the financial autonomy to the NPS by transferring their budget from the Office of the President and designating the IG as the accounting officer be placed on my desk for signature this afternoon,” he said on Tuesday.
He said the financial independence of the police will be an impetus to the fight against corruption and end the political weaponisation of the police.
Police and prisons services budgets decreased by Sh8.4 billion from last year’s Sh110.6 billion.
(Edited by Tabnacha O)