Grace Kaindi ‘quizzed’ on housing for police

Grace Kaindi speaking at a past event. FILE PHOTO | DIANA NGILA |  NATION MEDIA GROUP

In Summary

• Former deputy inspector-general was appointed envoy hours after being summoned.
• Agency accused her of failing to provide report.

By NATION TEAM
More by this Author

On the day deputy police boss Grace Kaindi was removed from office, she had been summoned for interrogation by the policing oversight agency.

The Independent Policing Oversight Authority wanted her to provide crucial information in investigations the agency is conducting.

The authority was seeking information on police housing projects as well as the posting of officers.

National Police Service Commission chairman Johnston Kavuludi on Thursday revealed how the decision to replace her as deputy inspector-general was made.

Mr Kavuludi said: “The position fell vacant upon retirement. She attained the age of 60 years and whenever that happens the vacancy has to be filled. The police service commission received the proposal from the inspector-general. It was discussed and agreed.”

Mr Joel Kitili was then recommended to the President in keeping with the law.

Mr Kavuludi’s “revelation” was an about-turn from the position taken by the commission two months ago.

A June 15 letter said: “Our earlier letter of December 2014 giving you (Ms Kaindi) notice of your retirement with effect from October 12, stands cancelled.”

This is after Ms Kaindi had maintained she would leave office in January 2018.

She had cited the law, which states that her position falls under a State Office and not the Civil Service.

She maintained her tenure was not pegged on the attainment of the mandatory retirement age of 60 years for civil servants but on contract, which in this case was five years.

She wrote: “My term of office should expire on January 24, 2018, from January 25, 2013. I would, in light of the above, have a legitimate expectation as a State Officer to serve in my current capacity for the duration of the term provided by law.”

ASKED FOR LIST

The National Treasury had also written a circular to government agencies, including the National Police Service Commission, asking for a list of all State officers in their agencies.

In reply to the letter by Treasury Principal Secretary Kamau Thugge, Mr Kavuludi gave a list of commissioners, including Ms Kaindi.

On August 25, the oversight authority wrote to Ms Kaindi: “While your office has largely complied with the request in so far as matters of housing are concerned, we note with regret that to date, your office has failed, refused, and, or, neglected to provide the requisite information in regard to the issues of deployment. The authority is now of the considered view that your office is wilfully withholding information regarding this important exercise.”

The authority had warned her that it was an offence to fail to obey the summonses that required her to appear before the commission at 11am. She was appointed ambassador hours later and replaced with Mr Kitili.

Contacted for comment, the oversight authority's chairman, Mr Macharia Njeru, refused to address the contents of the letter.

However, he said: “We were considering launching a petition that would lead to her removal. We were completely dissatisfied with the running of the Kenya Police.”

Mr Njeru said the National Police Service Commission should have come up with appraisals of all senior officers.

“In my personal capacity, having sat in the police reforms commission, the issue of gender parity should not arise regarding positions. However, it should be a representation of the numbers in the entire service.”

He said the top police positions should be open to all on merit.