Welfare: Review Police housing allowances, IPOA tells CS, IG.

The Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) has asked Interior Cabinet Secretary Professor Kithure Kindiki and Inspector General of Police Japhet Koome to push for a review of Police officers’ housing allowances.

IPOA in its recommendations stated that the move will enable the officers to rent decent houses outside the state provided police houses.

The Authority in the July to December 2022 Performance Report also asked the Inspector General (IG) to ensure that police premises are adequately funded.

“Proper planning and fair distribution of resources in line with Sec 116(2) of the National Police Service Act of 2011 should be adhered to,” IPOA said in the report.

Kit up

The civilian oversight Authority also wants the IG to ensure sufficient provision of motor vehicles, uniforms, police registers and tools of work which will improve the work of the police.

“The necessity of keeping proper records is well recognized in the NPS Act, and the OCSs must ensure that proper records are kept as required by the law and in line with Chapter 59 of the NPS Service Standing Orders,” IPOA said.

IPOA also asked the police at station levels to ensure that the lock-up facilities are in hygienic conditions conducive for human habitation.

The IG, IPOA said should also ensure that there are adequate offices and office space with sufficient supply of police registers and stationery. Police registers include; Occurrence Books, Cell Registers, Prisoner Property Book, Charge Registers, Arms and Ammunition Register, Exhibit Register, Complaints against Police Officer Register.

Gender Balance

During inspections in different stations, IPOA says its officers realized that there were insufficient registers and most of those in charge had resorted to using improvised registers, often store bought black books.

In its recommendation to the National Police Service Commission (NPSC), IPOA stated the need for gender balance in appointments, promotions and transfers to ensure the third gender rule as enshrined in the constitution.

It also pushed for the deployment of substantive ward commanders in the newly gazetted stations.