Revert to old police uniform, Maraga team recommends

 

The task force on police reforms wants the service to revert to the old blue uniform.

The team said the Cabinet Secretary for Defence, in consultation with the Cabinet Secretary for Interior, should develop and propose legislation for the establishment of a National Uniforms Committee.

They proposed the committee be made of representatives from the Disciplined and Security Services whose mandate will be to approve standards, colours and qualities of uniforms for use by each Service.

"This recommendation flows from the numerous complaints voiced on the quality and supply of uniforms to the members of the three services," the team led by former Chief Justice David Maraga said.

“As regards the NPS uniforms, in line with the overwhelming views of the public, police officers themselves, and the leadership of NPS, the taskforce recommends that the NPS reverts to its old uniform for a period of three years, during which a process of designing a new uniform should be commenced in accordance with the recommendations in this Report.”

“The Committee should also address the misuse of uniforms by the public,” the report says.

The task force established that the three services have not automated their human recourse processes, thus creating loopholes and opportunities for manipulation and corruption.

Additionally, there are many instances where human resource functions are undertaken by uniformed officers who are not qualified HR professionals and end up making grave errors, even on mundane issues, to the chagrin of members of the Services.

It recommended that save for operational matters related to deployment, all other HR functions should be left to officers with the requisite HR training, experience, and competence to handle personnel matters in the services.

“Full digitalisation of all HR services, including the payments of allowances will ensure rapid response to the needs of all NPS officers.

BY THE STAR