President William Ruto is set to unveil a strategic framework on Wednesday to guide the implementation of a report concerning the terms and conditions of service for the National Police Service, Prisons, and National Youth Service.
Officials indicated that this framework follows the successful rollout of prioritized recommendations from the initial phase of the implementation. The Chief Justice (Rtd) David Maraga Taskforce presented its report to President Ruto in November of last year.
The framework will oversee the remaining implementation phases, focusing on leadership within the three services, oversight and accountability, institutional capacity development, human resource management, operational readiness, and logistical capabilities.
Developed in consultation with the National Treasury, the Salaries Remuneration Commission (SRC), and the Public Service Commission (PSC), this framework aims to provide a clear structure for implementation.
“We are also involving development partners to support specific projects and programs identified in the recommendations,” said Interior Principal Secretary Dr. Raymond Omollo.
The President has called for the swift implementation of the report, which is part of ongoing efforts to reform and enhance service delivery.
A national inter-agency team, led by the Ministry of Interior and National Administration, has been established to guide the implementation process. This committee includes senior officials from the Ministry of Public Service, National Treasury, SRC, and National Police Service Commission, among others.
Chaired by Omollo, the committee is reviewing approximately 200 recommendations from the report, prioritizing those that can be executed through administrative action without additional funding.
Training for staff on the new service standards and reforms has already begun. Dr. Omollo noted that the implementation progress is at 65% for NYS, 42% for Kenya Prisons Service, and 37% for NPS.
The reform recommendations include a new basic salary scheme for officers in the police, prisons, and NYS. The government is seeking Sh108 billion to implement these extensive reforms.
The report highlights issues like political interference, corruption in hiring and promotions, and the unique challenges faced by the services, which differ from mainstream public service.
The task force emphasized the need for political goodwill to ensure the successful implementation of these reforms, advocating for transparency, professionalism, and community engagement to rebuild trust between law enforcement and the public.
To address pay issues, the task force recommended creating a separate budget sector for the Disciplined and Security Services and increasing the basic salary for the lowest-ranking officers by 40%.
Implementation of salary adjustments has begun, and the task force has also suggested automating allowance payments to prevent misappropriation.
The recommendations include restoring the Police Airwing to the National Police Service while ensuring compliance with aviation standards and urging Parliament to provide adequate budgetary support for its operation.
