The National Police Service Commission CEO Peter Lelei now wants MPs to summon Inspector-General of Police Douglas Kanja to explain why the National Police Service (NPS), which he heads, refuses to release the police payroll to the commission for audit purposes.
While appearing before the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) of the National Assembly, Mr Lelei went as far as appealing to MPs for help in accessing the payroll, only to face a barrage of accusations of “sleeping on the job.”
The committee members were particularly puzzled as to why the commission was seeking assistance when the Constitution already mandates it as the custodian of the police payroll.
“We had difficulty accessing the payroll for audit to determine the implementation status of the commission policies and resolutions,” said Mr Lelei, citing strained relations between the commission and the service.
“This Parliament has assisted us before and we are ready to appear here alongside the police service to be cross-examined together. We urge Parliament to help us take over the human resource function of NPS,” Mr Lelei pleaded, urging the committee to summon IG Kanja.
Article 246(3) of the Constitution grants the police commission sole authority to recruit and appoint persons to hold or act in positions within the police service, confirm appointments and determine promotions and transfers.
However, Mr Lelei shocked the MPs when he stated that denying the commission access to the police payroll means the NPSC cannot carry out payroll inspection or a human resource audit—concerns flagged by the Auditor-General.
Mr Lelei noted that the commission has made efforts to improve its relationship with NPS command to enable access to the information necessary to carry out its mandate.
The commission’s inability to execute its mandate was laid bare after Auditor-General Nancy Gathungu, in an audit of the commission’s 2022/23 accounts, revealed that it had not been granted access to the police payroll.
The denial made it impossible for auditors to determine how effectively the NPSC was implementing human resource policies.
But PAC members, including Dr Wilberforce Oundo (Funyula), Maryanne Kitany (Aldai) and Nabii Nabwera (Lugari) faulted Mr Leleli for failing to assert his office’s authority.
“You are being indolent because the Constitution gives you control over the NPS payroll. Go and work don’t sit on your back,” said Dr Oundo.
On her part, Ms Kitany criticised the commission for lacking a strategic plan.
“The law gives the commission explicit functions in detail. You should be telling us that you have initiated an audit not coming here to seek our help over the NPS,” the MP said.
According to the audit, the NPSC had developed a 2019–2022 strategic plan focused on the human resource and welfare needs of police officers through the formulation and implementation of transformative HR policies.
These included recruitment, appointments, promotions, transfers, disciplinary actions, HR audits, appeals, and welfare. However, the strategic plan lapsed in June 2022.
Mr Nabwera questioned how the police payroll ended up under the NPS and likened the NPSC to the biblical Jonah, who defied God's command and was swallowed by a whale before being cast ashore to fulfil his mission.
“When you abdicate your duty, as you have done—and admit it in writing—you get punished. The CEO has admitted that he doesn’t know his responsibilities. He is intentionally avoiding his duty,” said Mr Nabwera.
