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{
    "id": 1472872,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1472872/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 233,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "South Mugirango, UDA",
    "speaker_title": "Hon. Silvanus Osoro",
    "speaker": null,
    "content": ".’ Those are the disciplinary issues that Mr. Kanja needs to address. He should teach his junior officers that they should not just be moving around since the police force is now a police service. It does not cost much for a police officer to talk to fellow Kenyans in a polite language. Why arrest a person and tell him: ‘ Utaongea mbele ?’ Those issues need to be reviewed going forward. Regarding his age, as I said earlier, Article 245 of the Constitution and Section 11 of the National Police Service Act provides the qualifications for appointment of the Inspector- General, but they are silent on the age limit. He is 61 years old but the law is silent. Of course, people will challenge us that there is Rule 70 of the Public Service Regulations which states that the mandatory retirement age for public servants is 60 years. This applies to a public servant and does not apply to the Inspector-General. This is because there is definition of who a public servant is in that provision. Article 234 of the Constitution defines who a state officer is. Hon. Speaker, with those many remarks, I implore upon this House to expedite this process and approve the nomination of Mr. Kanja for appointment as the substantive Inspector- General of Police. There is debate about the court orders being defied by the incoming Inspector-General. I want to advise the Police Service and the Judiciary to maintain their independence. The Police Service is independent in terms of operations, just like the Judiciary. There is a delicate balance because at one point, I heard a judge complain about withdrawal of security officers and yet, the Judiciary is independent. However, when the Inspector-General says that the National Police Service is independent, it raises issues. In our Constitution, the independent offices have their own rights. Let me speak as a court officer because I am an Advocate of the High Court. It is important for people to obey court orders."
}