National Police Service Commission chairman Eliud Kinuthia's bodyguards have been withdrawn as the standoff with Inspector General Japhet Koome over the promotion of police officers escalates.
Sources told the Star that 15 officers who were guarding Kinuthia’s property in his Lamu home were withdrawn at the weekend.
The move was immediately linked to the ongoing standoff at the commission over recent promotions affecting 514 police officers.
Kinuthia complained that his bodyguards had suddenly been withdrawn from his property but was left with only one who walks with him.
He confirmed his security had been withdrawn and dismissed the move by police authorities as a distraction.
“It is like when you are chasing an antelope then a squirrel appears. It will distract you. This is what is happening now to my colleagues and I. I won’t be distracted,” he said.
He added he will protect the Constitution and vowed to stay focused on correcting the mess at the commission.
“I am at home. I can’t leave because they withdrew my security,” he told the Star on the phone.
Also affected was the commission CEO Peter Leley who had officers guarding his Nairobi home withdrawn.
“They have complained saying the IG is punishing them with the withdrawal over the promotion saga. We wait to see what's next,” an insider aware of the developments said.
The officers attached to the officials were recalled for “further training” even as one official questioned why Kinuthia had 15 personnel attached to him.
There is an ongoing standoff at the commission over the recently announced promotions by Koome who is also a member of NPSC.
On one side there is the chairman, commissioners Alice Otwala and Lilian Kiamba plus Leley who is the co-opted member while Koome has his deputies Noor Gabow, Douglas Kanja, Edwin Cheluget, John Ole Moyaki and Eusabius Laibuta and DCI boss Mohamed Amin who is also co-opted.
Some commissioners claim Kinuthia has refused to call a full commission meeting for discussion of various pending issues.
Kinuthia did not respond to queries on that claim.
The fight went a notch higher after Koome ordered his officers to ignore an advert placed by Leley calling for applications for the promotions.
Koome warned any police officer who may fail to heed his order will face disciplinary action.
“I, therefore, direct that all officers under your command should be informed to ignore the advertisement and that any officer who fails to heed the directive may face disciplinary sanctions,” Koome said in an internal memo to all police commanders.
The memo was dated June 9, 2023, and was sent to all officers in the Kenya Police, Administration Police and Director of Criminal Investigation.
He said his attention had been drawn to the advert by Leley calling for applications from police for positions declared.
It came following an advertisement placed by Leley in which he advertised 514 vacancies already filled by the police. Kinuthia termed this illegal.
Koome had last Monday announced the promotion of the 514 officers. But hours later, Kinuthia termed the move null and void and declared the move was illegal escalating the drama.
He planned a press conference at a Mombasa hotel but canceled it before Leley released an unsigned statement that had no official letterhead also dismissing the promotions.
“The promotions are contrary to Article 246 of the Constitution of Kenya- 2010, the National Police Service Commission Promotion Regulations, 2015, Chapter 34 of the National Police Service Standing Orders, 2017 and the National Police Service Career Guidelines," Leley said in a statement.
“They are also unlawful and un-procedural as the Inspector General has no such authority in Law. The Commission cannot ascertain the merits of the said promotions."
Koome said he was within the law in what he was doing.
On Friday, June 9, Leley put an advert in local newspapers saying the Executive Order No 1 of 2023 on organisation of the Government of the Republic of Kenya of 6 January 2023, recognised the independence of National Police Service Commission and National Police Service.
The advert said NPSC is committed to implementing the provisions of the Constitution, Article 232(1), on fair competition and merit, representation of Kenya's diverse communities and affording equal employment opportunities to men and women, members of all ethnic groups and persons with disabilities.
The commission wants to fill six vacancies of the rank of Senior Inspector General of Police, Assistant Inspector General of Police(22), Commissioners of Police(43), Senior Superintendent of Police(160) and Superintendents of Police(97).
In the Administration Police, the commission said it intends to fill three positions of the rank of SAIG, five AIGs, 13 CPs, 21 SSP and 67 SPs while in DCI there are three SAIGs, five AIGs, 21 CPs, 39 SSPs and nine SPs.
These are the same positions that Koome had filled.
