Kindiki Orders Immediate Transfer Of These Police Officers, Issues 60-Day Ultimatum

Interior Cabinet Secretary Kithure Kindiki on Wednesday, October 11 revealed that the government has begun implementing a policy which will see the transfer of police officers who have served for three years or more in 1 station.

Appearing before the Senate National Security, Defence, and Foreign Relations Committee to answer questions on various issues in the security sector, the CS further directed that the process should be completed in 60 days.

He further threatened to have the salaries of those who will not have heeded the directive at the end of the period, withheld.

Interior CS, Kithure Kindiki appearing before the Senate on October 11, 2023. /KITHURE KINDIKI

"No Police Officer should serve in one station for more than three years. The signal communicating this directive has already been relayed," Kindiki ordered.

"Officers who have served a police station for 3 years must be transferred with immediate effect. The directive by the government is that any officer after the 60 days who continues to resist or for whatever reason does not move to a different station, the salary will be stopped. It is that serious."

He, while revealing that the directive was issued two weeks ago, further noted that those doing special assignments have a maximum duration of one year at a station.

Kindiki noted that the policy was part of recommendations by the Taskforce on Police reforms chaired by Chief Justice Emeritus David Maraga, with the transfers viewed as measures meant to enhance the efficiency of officers in serving Kenyans.

“For those doing serious operations, normally we move them within one year because of the kinetic and demanding nature of the operations they are involved in,” Kindiki said.

The CS who appeared before the William Cheptumo-led committee further disclosed how police officers who die in the line of duty are compensated.

Kindiki revealed that the officers are entitled to a package that includes a one-off payment which is equivalent to eight years of gross salary.

To enhance security and bring to book perpetrators of criminal activities such as kidnappings and abductions, Kindiki said the Government is intensifying foot and mobile patrols.

Furthermore, the CS divulged the Ministry of Interior's ongoing sensitization efforts to communities on the importance of sharing intelligence information on suspicious persons in their locality who are likely to commit crime and revitalising community policing such as the Nyumba Kumi initiative to enhance information sharing.

Responding to the recent increase of insecurity in Lamu County, Kindiki revealed that the government would release the names of those who planned the attacks by Friday.

Kindiki further ordered all suspects whose names will appear in the gazette notice to surrender themselves to the nearest police station, KDF camp, or chief's office once the government publishes the notice.