Disquiet among Limuru police officers over impromptu promotion interviews
Tension is brewing within the National Police Service (NPS) as officers in Limuru Sub-County express dissatisfaction over what they perceive as impromptu communication regarding promotion interviews.
The unease stems from a letter dated Friday, December 8, 2023, issued by Mr. Philip Mwania, referencing a communication from the office of the Deputy Inspector General on promotions for officers on boards two and three.
The communication from the Deputy Inspector General’s office, dated December 7, 2023, directed officers to attend promotion interviews in various categories, including Chief Inspector with the Higher Training Course (HTC), Station (Platoon Commanders Course), Non-Commissioned Officers (NCO) to Senior Sergeant Course, Police Corporals to Sergeant, and Station Corporal and Section Commander course.
Officers were instructed to present themselves at the headquarters by 5 pm on the same day without fail, with the board convening at the boardroom in Limuru Sub-County Headquarters.
The communication was addressed to the Officer Commanding Station (OCS) Tigoni and Limuru Town.
However, officers who spoke to Nairobi News anonymously expressed frustration, describing the communication as impromptu and raising concerns about its timing.
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One officer questioned the rationale behind sending the communication on the same day as the interviews.
“Why should they make a communication and give us less than five hours before the interviews kick off?” wondered the officer.
Another officer explained that the abrupt nature of the communication prevented some from attending the interviews, as they had already committed to other engagements.
“When I heard of the communication, I had already engaged myself in other things. The communication was not timely, and all I can say is this is unfair,” said the officer.
Mr Philip Mwania dismissed the officers’ claims, attributing them to individuals who did not meet the set qualifications.
“That is a lie being peddled by malicious people who were never qualified for the same positions. Those who qualified for the positions applied and are not complaining,” Mr Mwania responded.
Police promotions in the country have historically been contentious, with past instances of disagreement between members of the National Police Service Commission (NPSC) and the Inspector General of Police.
In July, NPSC boss Eliud Kinuthia and Chief Executive Officer Peter Leley criticised promotions made by Inspector General Japhet Koome, deeming them unprocedural and unlawful.