Hundreds of police officers, primarily constables, are being relocated to and from Garissa County as part of the mass transfer ordered by Interior Cabinet Secretary Kindiki Kithure. Dadaab Refugee Camp including the eight command areas will collectively receive 261 new officers.
Officers are being transferred to Garissa County from different stations across the nation as part of a comprehensive overhaul directed by Interior Cabinet Secretary Kindiki Kithure. Additionally, 259 officers who have been stationed in the county for over three years are being relocated elsewhere.
These transfers, outlined in a report from the Garissa County police commander dated April 4, have received approval from Deputy Inspector General of Police Douglas Kanja, who oversees the Kenya Police Service.
At least 33 have been transferred from Kajiado to the county, Nakuru (19), Nairobi (13), Nyandarua (10), Kiambu (12), Muranga (15), Narok (5), among several others. The officers are expected to report to their new stations before April 15.
The respective sub county commanders have been instructed to submit files of each of the officers. The commanders are also expected to submit casualty returns on departure and arrival.
According to the regulations, transfers are to be preceded by sufficient notice, ensuring officers have time to prepare, including receiving allowances.
Transfer allowances are provided before the officer moves to their new station. However, officers who request transfers for any reason are not entitled to receive a transfer allowance, as outlined in the regulations.
The regulations also provide that junior officers transferred to hardship areas at the management’s discretion ought to be issued with necessary clothing and equipment at the point of transfer and paid hardship allowance as per the Service Standing Orders.
The recent Taskforce on police reforms, led by former Chief Justice David Maraga, noted that in reality, this practice is seldom followed.
According to the regulations, apart from the Inspector General, Deputy Inspector Generals, and the Director of Criminal Investigations, all other ranks may be transferred between stations as determined by the Commission.
Nonetheless, the standard operating procedures and regulations specify that transfers or deployments should not be utilized as either disciplinary measures or rewards.
