The power wars between the National Police Service
Commission (NPSC) and National Police Service (NPS) played out in Parliament
with the commission disclosing it was denied access to payroll during audit
process.
Constitutionally, NPSC plays the human resource function for
the National Police Service.
Appearing before the National Assembly’s Public Accounts
Committee (PAC) on Wednesday, NPSC chief executive officer Peter Lelei demanded
that Parliament summons IG Douglas Kanja to explain why the Service does not
want to release police payroll for audit.
According to Lelei, their attempts to have the payroll have
been in vain confirming the escalation of the poor working relationship between
the two agencies.
“We had difficulty accessing the payroll for audit to
determine the implementation status of the NPSC policies and resolutions,”
Lelei said.
The plea however backfired with MPs accusing the commission
of sleeping on the job.
The oversight committee chaired by Butere MP Tindi Mwale
wondered why the commission is ‘crying’ when the law mandates it custodianship
of the police payroll.
Article 246 (3) of the constitution grants NPSC the sole
mandate to recruit and appoint persons to hold or act in offices in the
service, confirm appointments, and determine promotions and transfers within
the NPS.
The commission was appearing before the committee which is
examining the 2022-23 Auditor General’s report.
Lelei noted that the payroll audit could not be carried out
because the commission could not gain access of the payroll.
“This Parliament has assisted us before and we are ready to
come here together to be cross examined together. We urge Parliament to enable
us to take over the human resource function of NPS,” Lelei said.
According to the audit report, auditors were unable to
determine implementation of policies because of the inaccessible payroll.
PAC members Wilberforce Oundo (Funyula), Maryanne Kitany
(Aldai) and Nabii Nabwera (Lugari) however accused NPSC of sleeping on the job.
“You are being indolent because the constitution gives the
control over the NPS payroll. Go and work,” Oundo said.
“The law gives the commission explicit functions in detail.
You should be telling us that you have started an audit and not seeking our
help over the NPS,” added Kitany.
Nabwera wondered how the police payroll ended up with the
NPS when the law was clear on the custodian of the payroll.
INSTANT ANALYSIS
The National Police Service Commission in Kenya has a broad
mandate focused on the human resource management of the National Police Service.
This includes recruitment, appointment, confirmation, promotion and
disciplinary control of NPS officers. The NPSC also develops policies, provides
oversight on training, and reviews conditions of service for NPS staff.
