Independent Police oversight Authority has suggested a wide-ranging reform package to the David Maraga-led taskforce, wanting the housing, welfare, health insurance and work facilitation of cops enhanced.
The proposals presented to the police reform initiatives on Wednesday, want more police authorities given access to the service fund to enhance the financial autonomy of devolved units and facilitation of the officers made commensurate to the demand put for their service.
For example, the watchdog body says that now that the police inspector general has been given the authority to incur expenses (AIE), it was time to cascade the authority to station commanders as well as the director of the Internal Affairs Unit to entrench reasonable independence.
“National Police service leadership to facilitate timely AIE disbursements for administrative and operational purposes. The Director IAU to be made an AIE holder to enable financial autonomy and enhance logistical operations,” it said.
The financial autonomy of the IAU will enable independent determination of its budgeting priorities, including devolution of its services to grassroots to enhance internal police oversight and accountability, Ipoa proposed.
Further, Ipoa says the service should make deliberate steps to have an adequate supply of vital resources such as computers, internet, printers, stationery, uniforms, protective gear, police registers for OB, Cell, exhibit and patrol, to stations, camps and posts.
In terms of housing, the service should facilitate customized mortgage facilities for police officers so that they beat a pathway for owning their homes.
The body also suggests a hybrid system of housing police officers, so that modern housing units are constructed within police installations and a housing allowance is given to them to rent out.
Further, “officers in field camps should be facilitated with quality tents and uni-huts putting into consideration the harsh weather conditions.”
While cops are currently given a housing allowance, Ipoa says the amount is little and does not take heed of the current inflationary pressures exacting economic pain on them.
The body also wants the fuel allocation to the stations review upwards to take into consideration of distance, the terrain of the area, and station operations.
It also wants the allocation of money for fuel reserves at the sub-county levels to be revived.
In terms of motivation and welfare, Ipoa wants to establish a framework for rewarding outstanding police officers and put facilitative funds for officers needed to do some tasks, like attending counts outside their stations.
“Develop a policy on facilitation of officers who attend court outside their Counties.”
On mental health, the body has recommended that the police training curriculum be reviewed periodically to appreciate the changes in the environment and train them on trauma resilience.
The police service should also expand cops’ access to medical care by ensuring their medical insurance scheme Scheme covers mental health and rehabilitation, say for drug addicts.
It has also called for forming a welfare and benevolent fund managed by to be managed by the service.
It wants a monitoring system to be put in place to enable certifying police officers with mental health issues so that their access to arms is controlled.
“Control firearm handling by officers certified as mentally ill.”
Further, the ministry of health should ease the reach of its medical service to officers by “integrating medical services in designated police stations for basic care where applicable.”
Still, on welfare, the authority wants the Maraga team to ask the Salaries and Remuneration Commission to review the salary structure of the service.
It also wants the service to pay the allowance timeously without officers having to wait forever.
“NPS [should] make timely payment of all allowances [and] Introduce payment of extraneous allowances. [There should be] timely reimbursement of transfer allowances and officers accorded ample time to report to their new stations. Develop a legal framework for compensation of police officers’ dependents,” the recommendations read.
Ipoa has also suggested that a clear policy should be formulated to guide the formation of specialized police wings to stem abuse.
They want the Interior CS to be involved and oversee the process of the new formations.
It also proposed that the law be amended to remove governors from chairing the county security teams.
