He was accompanied by the South African High Commissioner to Kenya, Ms K A Mqulwana when he departed from East London Airport, South Africa. /PSCU
Three radical and systematic amendments to a critical police law have given President Uhuru Kenyatta a stranglehold over the police, including sweeping powers that triggered the latest shakeup in the service.
The changes to the law that started soon after Jubilee rode to power have clipped the powers of the National Police Service Commission (NPSC) and turned it into a rubber stamp of the Executive.
Critics have said the President's unchecked discretion to hire and fire police chiefs effectively makes appointees Executive puppets and opens the doors to manipulation.
“The Constitution intended that the police should be independent of the Executive. The same Constitution intended that the National Police Service Commission, just like the Judicial Service Commission in respect of the Judiciary, will have an absolute say on those who are appointed to head the police,” former Ombudsman chairman Otiende Amollo told the Star.
On January 5, Uhuru sacked Deputy Inspector General of Police Joel Kitili, his Administration Police counterpart Samuel Arachi and DCI boss Ndegwa Muhoro.
On an acting capacity, he appointed Edward Njoroge to replace Kitili, Noor Gabow to take over from Arachi and George Kinoti to succeed Muhoro.
The NPSC, led by its Chairman Johnston Kavuludi, have kicked off the recruitment of substantive officers and the deadline for applications ends today.
However, the changes have triggered protests, with Opposition chief Raila Odinga claiming Uhuru is acting with impunity in the belief that he will never have to face Kenyans again in an election.
Raila’s co-principal Moses Wetangu’la also said Uhuru was blatantly violating the law by taking over the powers of independent institutions.

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