Written by Lisa Murimi
Police officers are poised to receive a long-awaited pay raise starting this month, as the National Police Service Commission (NPSC) concluded a comprehensive job evaluation process.
The review, conducted in collaboration with the Salaries and Remuneration Commission (SRC), gained consensus and was deemed successful, according to NPSC Chairperson Eliud Kinuthia.
“We have participated fully with the SRC to ensure this is successful,” said Kinuthia Wednesday in a press briefing.
The remuneration adjustment encompasses both uniformed officers and civilian personnel within the police service, aligning with constitutional provisions governing civil servants’ pay reviews.
Kinuthia clarified that this pay increase is unrelated to the forthcoming report from the David Maraga-led task force, emphasizing the distinct roles of constitutional commissions and task forces.
“We are not preempting the ongoing process. There is a clear delineation of mandate between a constitutional commission and a task force,” he said. He noted that the pay review had already been in progress, independent of the task force’s activities.
He added: “It would have happened whether or not the task force was in place or not, the Presidential task force in fact had a higher mandate.
“The first circular on police review was released in 2019 following the third phase of increment with the second one being issued in 2020 for the final phase of the previous administration.”
The pay rise offers significant relief to officers who have experienced no salary increments over the past two years. With an allocation of Sh27.1 billion from the Treasury for pay adjustments, the police force will receive Sh3.6 billion. Further increments of Sh2.84 billion are anticipated for the 2023-24 financial year, followed by Sh1.3 billion in the subsequent fiscal year.
Inspector General of Police Japthet Koome assured officers that the increased salaries would be reflected in their payslips by the end of the week, acknowledging the much-needed boost for the dedicated police personnel.
