- Leley said the commission will insist that it be allowed to execute its mandate.
- The Labour Court has suspended the promotions of 514 officers, allegedly elevated illegally by Koome.
Image: FILE
The National Police Service Commission (NPSC) has maintained that the law was broken in the recent promotion of police officers by Inspector General of Police Japhet Koome.
Appearing before the Standing Committee on National Cohesion, Equal Opportunity, and Regional Integration, Commission CEO Peter Leley said NPSC is the institution mandated with the promotion of officers.
“Although mediation is underway, we still demand that the law is followed,” he stated.
Leley said the commission will insist that it be allowed to execute its mandate.
“We have been asked to explore mediation and we are progressing well. We however insist that the law must be observed,” he said.
The Labour Court has suspended the promotions of 514 officers, allegedly elevated illegally by Koome.
The suit arose from Koome's announcement that he had promoted the officers with immediate effect.
NPSC moved swiftly and denounced the IG's action, saying they are unlawful and un-procedural as the IG has no such authority in law.
Justice Byram Ongaya issued the orders on June 22, 2023, following a suit filed by Busia Senator Okiya Omtatah, who argues that Koome usurped the role of the National Police Service Commission which has the legal mandate to promote officers.
"That pending the inter-partes hearing of the application or further orders by the court, interim orders are hereby given staying the implementation of promotions affecting 514 police officers said to have been unilaterally effected on June 5, 2023, in the National Police Service," Justice Ongaya ordered.
The judge also issued an order to have the National Police Service Commission immediately convene a meeting for all parties in the suit including IG Koome with a view of amicably resolving the dispute as enriched under Article 252 of the constitution.
On Thursday, Leley insisted that the outcome of the mediation process should be within the law.
Uasin Gishu senator Jackson Mandago stated independent offices should be allowed to discharge their mandate.
“We have very effective officers who are never promoted. We must promote people who work well and not people who shuttle between Harambee House and Police Headquarters but have never been to the ground,” he stated.
Mandago assured Leley that the government is committed to supporting independent offices and constitution commissions.
He added:
“The IG must be told to read the law. If the NPSC allows IG to promote officers, we will send the entire commission home."
Leley assured that gone will be the days when people will be bribing their way into the service.