IG Koome on spot over promotion and hiring of police
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Cracks emerge between IG Koome and the National Police Service Commission (NPSC over the promotion and recruitment of police
Cracks emerge between IG Koome and the National Police Service Commission (NPSC over the promotion and recruitment of police.
Inspector General of Police Japheth Koome is in conflict with the National Police Service Commission (NPSC) over his decisions regarding the promotion and recruitment of officers.
The National Police Service Commission now claims that IG has taken over its human resources duties.
NPSC commissioners, while appearing before the National Assembly’s Constitutional Implementation Oversight Committee (CIOC) on Tuesday, said in their endeavor to execute their mandate, faced several challenges and impediments, including the IG’s refusal to implement their decisions.
Commission maintained that Koome was subordinate to NPSC and should fully comply with the legal policy, and institutional regulatory framework guiding the team’s human resource functions.
Commission’s major grievance is that Koome has single-handedly made decisions on appointments and promotions without involving them. By virtue of his position, IG and his deputies are members of the commission.
“The Inspector General of Police has severally cited Article 245(4) of the Constitution as the reason for not implementing decisions of the commission on recruitment, appointments, confirmation in appointments, dismissal, transfers, and promotions,” the commission told the House team.
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The commission further noted that Koome’s actions had resulted in numerous irregular and unprocedural decisions with ethical, legal, and public finance management implications. Some commissioners claimed Koome was dishing out promotions to cronies without following any competitive criteria and without a determination by the commission.
They accuse him of exploiting a provision in the Constitution that requires him to run the commission “independently.”
“He is colluding with PSC staff deployed illegally by the Interior Ministry without due process by the commission in HR, PFM, and administration to mismanage payroll and confer benefits unfairly from irregular promotions,” one of the commissioners who sought anonymity said.
Commission also told CIOC that the perception of the office of the IG as being independent has affected his performance.
“This will at the long run affect service delivery for the citizen and may prolong the time he takes to settle down.
The commission, thus, recommends implementation of a performance contract and evaluation for officers of senior ranks on HR-related matters,” NPSC recommended.
NPSC said the perceived overlapping mandates was as a result of wrong and selective interpretation of the Constitution.
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