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Graduate police officers’ patience over pay runs out

Wednesday, February 23rd, 2022 00:00 | By
A banner displayed along Valley Road, Nairobi highlighting the protest by graduate police officers for alleged non-payment of their salaries. COURTESY

Patience of graduate police officers, some of whom have been earning less than Sh1,000, has run out and have now resorted to erecting banners along the highways.

Banners were mounted on footbridges and road sides along Valley Road, Waiyaki Way, Wangari Maathai Road, Limuru Road, Muranga Road and Jogoo Road, which are strategic and attract much attention.

“Four months without salaries,” read some of the banners that also revealed that over 1,000 police graduates are suffering from depression, suicide incidents and other forms of pressure due to salary cut.

The special allowance that has for years been paid to graduate Police Constables was scrapped late last year, with over 1000 officers getting less than Sh1,000 or negative pay.

Officers were being paid a salary equivalent to what Inspectors are paid, though they were not entitled to the same house allowance.

However, the employer, National Police Service Commission (NPSC) cancelled the payment and as a result most officers’ deductions exceeded the earnings, leaving a nil net pay.

The officers said they could not bear it any longer even though police regulations prohibit such actions. The Service regulations require officers, being guardians of the peace, to at all times set a good example to the general public by conducting himself or herself in an irreproachable manner, both on and off duty.

However, Section 83 of the National Police Service Act allows officers to form associations for consultations in respect of any matter concerning the members of the association. The associations are expected to, among other things, bringing to the notice of the Inspector General and the NPSC, any matters affecting their general welfare.

The associations are also responsible for negotiating and reporting for action on behalf of the officers any grievances or any other related matters.

Owing to the sensitive nature of their job, the rights and fundamental freedoms of officers are limited in some cases. The limitation relates to the right to fair labour relations to the extent of prohibiting officers of the service from joining and participating in the activities of a trade union and going on strike.

It also relates to the right to assemble, demonstrate, picket and petition public authorities to the extent of ensuring discipline in the Service.

Yesterday, the police and County Government officials moved around and removed the banners, with officials saying they were investigating the source of the banners and those behind them for possible prosecution.  The county government said they had not given approvals for the banners to be erected.

Nairobi deputy police boss James Mugera said they are yet to know the source of the banners and investigations on the same were ongoing.

The High Court last year in December stopped the commission from reducing salaries of graduate inspectors until a petition filed by officers is resolved.

Hearing of the matter was scheduled for February 22, giving an indication the banners were meant to send a message to the concerned parties.

The NPSC CEO Joseph Onyango had earlier confirmed the reversal and said the matter had been subject to several discussions in the past and even ended in court. 

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