MPs demands full transfer of HR functions to National Police Service Commission
The National Assembly Public Accounts Committee (PAC) has ordered Inspector of Police Douglas Kanja and National Police Service (NPS) accounting officer Bernice Sialaal Lemedeket to immediately surrender all human resource functions, especially control of the payroll, to the National Police Service Commission.
This directive follows revelations that the National Police Service had blocked both the Commission and the Office of the Auditor-General from reviewing its payroll for the financial year ending June 2023, raising serious concerns over transparency and accountability.
“Inspector-General and the Accounting Officer of the National Police Service, we are directing you, particularly the Accounting Officer, to immediately hand over all human resource functions, especially the payroll, to the commission immediately,” said Butere MP Tindi Mwale, who chairs the committee.
“You are not just to grant access but to formally and fully hand them over to the Commission. This should be done without delay; do not say it will take a week; it must be done as soon as you return to your office and put in writing,” added Mwale.
Mwale made the remarks on Tuesday as the committee reviewed the audited report of the National Police Service Commission for the financial year ended June 2023.
“Additionally, I want the CEO of the Commission to write back to the Public Accounts Committee immediately upon receiving these functions, confirming that you are now in a position to execute your constitutional mandate. And in two weeks, you will appear before us again to confirm compliance,” he held.
The sentiments come amid an ongoing debate over the proper implementation of constitutional mandates within the National Police Service, as lawmakers push to reinforce the independence and oversight role of the National Police Service Commission in handling human resource functions.
Mwale advised the National Police Service (NPS) to have a cordial relationship with the commission, saying that all Kenyans will be happy when they don’t see tiffs and fights between the two entities.
“IG Douglas Kanja, hanging onto functions that don’t belong to you could land you in unnecessary trouble. Hand them over to the Commission so it can do its job. Once that happens, even our national security will benefit, because recruitment, promotions, and HR matters will be handled professionally, as the Constitution intends. This is now the ruling of the Committee. All accounting officers must comply; no debate,” he ruled.
During the heated session of the committee, members raised concerns over attempts by some commissioners to “close the eyes and mouth of the CEO, preventing her from speaking the truth”.
“The committee only listens to the accounting officer, who is the CEO. Commissioners cannot mislead or attempt to contradict the CEO’s statements,” he ruled.
Inspector General of Police Douglas Kanja found himself on the spot over allegations of refusing to hand over the payroll function to the National Police Service Commission, with members of the committee accusing him of insubordination.
In his defence, the IG said, “We cooperate fully with this commission, and let’s not forget that I am also a commissioner. I’m a member of that commission. If for any reason the Commission does not have the payroll, they should actually be able to access it immediately.”
This even as Aldai MP Maryanne Kitany called for the immediate transfer of all human resource functions and related records from the office of the Inspector General (IG) to the National Police Service Commission (NPSC), in strict compliance with the Constitution and the National Police Service Commission Act.
Kitany emphasised that matters relating to police welfare, payroll, recruitment, promotions, and other HR functions must be fully managed by the Commission, as provided for in law.
“We want the IG and everybody in this room to comply with the Constitution of Kenya and the National Police Service Commission Act,” Kitany said. “Everything to do with HR matters, including welfare and payroll, should actually be handled by the Commission.”
She further clarified that it is not enough for the IG to merely provide access to reports or records.
Instead, she argued, the NPSC should be the custodian of all personnel files and HR documentation and should be the one reporting to the IG when necessary.
“It is not about giving them records or giving them access to reports. If anything, the person who should be giving reports is the Commission giving reports to the IG, not the other way around,” she said.
Kitany urged the committee chair to make a clear directive requiring the immediate handover of all records and documentation related to staff of the National Police Service to the Commission.
This, she said, would ensure accountability, professional management of HR functions, and better welfare for police officers.
“Chair, what we want in clarity today is that all records and any documentation about staff of the National Police Service Commission are handed over,” she stated. “So that tomorrow, if a police officer is not treated, we ask the Police Service Commission, not the police.”
