Cops to be fined Sh1.2m for quitting before decade

Police officers could pay the state up to Sh1.2 million if they resign before a minimum term of 10 years of service.

The National Police Service Commission has issued the advisory to recruits.

Commissioner Naftali Rono said aspiring recruits should take their time and keenly evaluate whether they are mentally prepared to serve the nation for more than a decade.

Rono spoke on Wednesday during a pre-recruitment training at Kerugoya, Kirinyaga.

He said the government uses an estimated Sh1.2 million in training one officer.

The commissioner said the officer is expected to show value for money by dutifully carrying out the mandate for which he or she is trained.

“The government holds the monopoly to train the military officers and as such uses a lot of resources in equipping them with the necessary skills," Rono said.

This, he says, compels the commission to bind the officers to serve consistently for a period not less than ten years.

“Should an officer pull out before the lapse of the mandatory spelt out term, he or she is required to compensate the state the full amount that was used in training,” Rono said.

He said the police service requires passionate and devoted individuals.

The commissioner also said recruits should prioritise their health.

He said they should shun joining the service if they are suffering from underlying medical conditions that might jeopardise their health during training.

Rono said the ailments are exposed in the course of the rigorous training which is undertaken in military institutes.

He said it is only wise for such individuals to keep off the police service and enroll to other professional paths.

The commissioner said a number of recruits have succumbed because they were unable to withstand the pressure of the grueling training.

“Do not lie during the recruitment exercise. You know yourself better, be honest to yourself by not hiding your health challenges,” he said.

Rono also said the commission has since relaxed some of the requirements for inclusivity.

He said they often bypass height especially in regions where people are below the required five feet -eight inches for men and five feet-three inches for women.

The commissioner said the upcoming recruitment which will be carried out on March 24 will see 5,000 recruits trained and absorbed in the police service.

Rono said as a commission they will continue improving the curriculum to equip officers with the necessary skills for tackling modern crimes.

His sentiments were backed by Kirinyaga police commander Mathew Mang’ira who said police training has been scaled up to address the complexities of the technological era.  

Mang’ira said new recruits will learn through apprenticeship.

He also said his office will continue offering the necessary support as well as make close follow up on the psychosocial state of officers.

(Edited by Bilha Makokha)