“My office is not aware of any such transfer,” the commission’s chairman Johnston Kavuludi said adding: “I will respond appropriately once we get that official communication.”/FILE
“My office is not aware of any such transfer,” the commission’s chairman Johnston Kavuludi said adding: “I will respond appropriately once we get that official communication.”
Under the new constitution, Kavuludi’s commission has powers to recruit, and appoint persons to hold or act in offices in the service, confirm appointments, and determine promotions and transfers within the National Police Service.
With the existence of the commission, not even Police Commissioner Mathew Iteere or the yet to be recruited Inspector General or the two deputies have such powers.
Once recruited, the Inspector General of Police and the two deputies will automatically become members of the commission but cannot make independent decisions on promotions or transfers of any police officer.
Such decisions can only be made by the commission in which they are members.
On Friday morning, the Prime Minister announced that he had recalled Johnson Wanyama back to Kisumu where he once served as the officer in charge.
A statement from his office said the Prime Minister’s action was in response to the locals’ demands following increased cases of murder and robberies in the town since last month.
“Prime Minister Raila Odinga announced today that the officer was on his way barely a day after residents demanded for his return after a weeklong protest over the wave of crime in the city,” the Prime Minister’s office said.
The premier made the announcement after a closed-door meeting with security chiefs at the provincial commissioner’s office where it was resolved that the officer resumes duties at his former station with immediate effect.
Our Correspondent in Kisumu said Wanyama reported to Kondele Police station as ordered shortly after 11 am.
Vigilance House did not immediately comment on the matter.
The changes made by the Prime Minister in Kisumu followed protests earlier in the week sparked by the killing of local politician Shem Onyango Kwega who was gunned down by gangsters.
Earlier, a prominent medical researcher had been killed by gangsters while a proprietor of a security firm was also killed on Wednesday, fuelling protests in the lake side town prompting the Prime Minister to intervene.
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