As ordered by President William Ruto, National Treasury Cabinet Secretary Ukur Yattani has officially designated the Inspector General of Police as the National Police Service’s Accounting Officer.
In his first speech as Head of State, Ruto promised to give the National Police Service financial autonomy by transferring its budget from the Office of the President and designating the Inspector-General as the accounting officer.
“Financial independence to the police will give impetus to the fight against corruption, and end the political weaponization of the criminal justice system; an undertaking I made to the people of Kenya,” Ruto said during his inauguration on September 13.
In a letter dated September 15 and addressed to the current Inspector General of Police Hillary Mutyambai, CS Yattani noted that Mutyambai had been designated as the accounting officer starting from 15 September 2022.
“In accordance with the powers conferred on the Cabinet Secretary to the National Treasury by Section 67 of the Public Finance Management (PFM) Act, 2012 you are hereby designated the Accounting Officer for Vote 1025 (National Police Service) for the financial year 2022/2023 with effect from 15th September 2022.”
As the National Police Service’s Accounting Officer, the IG will be responsible for keeping the Interior Ministry Cabinet Secretary up to date on all financial matters pertaining to the Ministry, as well as providing information and reports as directed by the Cabinet Secretary.
The IG will also be required to attend in-person meetings of Accounting Officers called by Treasury CS to deliberate on public finance management issues from time to time. The meetings are intended to keep Ministries, State Departments, Agencies, and the National Treasury in close contact and cooperation.
Police Inspector General Hillary Mutyambai has been on sick leave for nearly a month. Noor Gabow, Deputy Inspector General of Police, has been acting in his place.
