President William Ruto has stated that the salaries for the National Police Service (NPS), National Youth Service (NYS) and Kenya Prisons Service officers will increase by 40% over the next three years.
This comes after the President received the recommendations of the taskforce on police reforms chaired by former Chief Justice David Maraga at State House in Nairobi.
The president agreed with the recommendation saying the move would be vital in restoring integrity, efficiency and accountability in the security forces.
“I have seen the recommendation made by the taskforce to enhance salaries of our police, NYS and prison service by 40% over the next three years,” he said.
“I think it is well-considered recommendation and we will now await the work from the Salaries and Remuneration Commission to make the necessary adjustment so that we can implement the recommendation.”
He further stated: “Our primary objective is to secure the transformation of this nation by instituting a professional, efficient, effective security sector which is defined by integrity and accountability.”
The President also addressed issues raised by the taskforce among them corruption and underfunding surrounding the welfare of security personnel, saying his administration would also review the living conditioned, housing, and insurance to transform the sector.
“The taskforce has diagnosed four primary problems in our services that have hampered effective and efficient service delivery, rendered them resistant to growth and transformation and collapsed their stature in the eyes of Kenyans. The problems are, broadly, underfunding, deficient leadership, structural and organizational weaknesses and, most critically of all corruption,” he noted.
“I am directing the relevant organs of government to commence implementation of reviewing the pay, living conditions, medical cover, housing and other aspects of welfare for members of the services and simply do the right thing by our officers.”
Ruto also pledged to ensure the reconstitution of the three security bodies for better alignment in terms of legislation and policies.
Other key reforms by the State include the institutionalism of long-term equipment modernization, automation of human resource and finance management procedures revolving around recruitment, transfer promotions and payments of salaries and allowances.
The President also pledged to ensure no officer serves for more than three years in the same county, adding that promotion and recruitment of members of the police services will be made transparent
