Cabinet Secretary for Interior and Administration of National Government Kithure Kindiki has appointed a technical committee on review and development of legislative and policy reforms for the National Police Service (NPS) and National Youth Service (NYS).
Kindiki in a gazette notice dated August 30, 2024, published the names of 13 members and seven joint secretaries that will form the committee.
Kindiki on Committee’s role
The committee that will be chaired by Kepha Onyiso who is the State counsel in the Attorney General’s office, will, among other things, analyse the policy and legislative reforms as proposed in the Report of the National Taskforce on Improvement of the Terms and Conditions of Service and other Reforms for Members of the NPS and NYS.
“IT IS notified for general information of the public that the Cabinet Secretary for Interior and National Administration has appointed the Technical Committee on review and development of legislative and policy reforms for the National Police Service and National Youth Service (hereafter referred to as “Technical Committee”). The Technical Committee shall comprise of the following: Kepha Onyiso (Chairperson), Musita Anyangu (Vice Chairperson), Charles Otieno (Technical Advisor),” the gazette notice reads in part.
Maraga’s report
The forming of the committee follows the government’s adoption of the report by former Chief Justice David Maraga led-taskforce on reviewing the operations within the NPS, NYS and Kenya Prisons Service.
The reviews are aimed at improving the state of affairs at the NPS and NYS.
Draft Bills
The committee will also review and provide legal advice on proposals for legal reform, and draft various Bills that will be forwarded to the Attorney- General for further action.
Among the bills to be drafted is the Statute Law (Miscellaneous Amendments) Bill containing amendments to (the National Police Service Act, the National Police Service Commission Act, the Independent Policing Oversight Authority Act, the Public Order Management Act).
Other bills are the National Youth Service Amendment Bill, Security Services Uniform Committee Bill, and Security Services Remuneration Advisory Board Bill.
Kindiki on committee members
Kindiki also appointed five officials of the Attorney General’s office to be members of the committee.
They are Marion Muriithi, Seth Masese, Seko Brenda, Olivia Simiyu and Buhere Jay Sikuku.
Kenya Law Reform Commission’s James Nombi and Susan Kamau and Maurice Okoth, as well as Rogers Marindi and Dickson Magotsi from the Internal Security department, have also been named as members.
The joint secretaries include Peter Karanjah (Internal Security), Charles Ismael Otieno (NPS), Judith Chebet (NPSC), Festus Kinoti (Independent Policing Oversight Authority), William Kailo (government chemist), Nicolas Makokha (NYS) and Humphrey Young (State Department for Correctional Services).
The duration of the Technical Committee shall be a period of nine (9) months with effect from the August 23, 2024.
However, CS Kindiki may extend the duration of the Technical Committee for such longer period as may be necessary for the completion of its terms of reference.
