NPSC, MPs clash over tabling recruits’ names

There was drama in Parliament as National Police Service Commission CEO Peter Leley clashed with MPs over the ethnic composition of the commission’s staff.

The NPSC boss resisted attempts by MPs at the National Cohesion and Equal Opportunities Committee to compel him to table the list which he insisted is against the law.

The committee chaired by Mandera West MP Yussuf Haji has been doing an audit of ethnic diversity in state departments and agencies.

The committee wanted names of Kenyans hired in the ongoing recruitment to establish whether the process complied with the requirement of the law on ethnic balance.

NCIC Act compels public institutions to ensure no more than onethird of staff of a pubic establishment should come from the same ethnic community.

The committee’s vice chairperson Ong’ondo Were (Kasipul) demanded that the CEO, who appeared before the House team, submits the names of the recruits to the committee backing it with appointment letters to verify ethnic balance. A demand the CEO rejected.

“For the committee to establish whether you have used the ongoing recruitment to correct anomalies in ethnic balance you will be required to submit the list to the committee for verification,” Ong’ondo demanded.

But Leley declined noting that there is nowhere in the recruitment procedures that allows him to submit the list of the recruits to the committee before issuing them with appointment letters.

“About tabling the list of the recruits before the committee I will not. The committee will be breaking the law by compelling me to do so,” he said.

The lawmakers did not take the CEO’s sentiments lightly as they accused him of being arrogant and a hostile witness.

Haji reminded the adamant CEO that the committee had powers to compel any witness before it to submit documents on matters under investigation.

“The law empowers the committed to compel any witness appearing before it to table any document perceived to be of any assistance to their probe into matters before it. You cannot run away from the order,” he said.

Haji expressed his displeasure with the tone of the CEO in addressing the House team, adding the committee is not ready for confrontation.

“Your tone is disrespectful to the committee. You can oppose what the House team wants from you but in a respectful manner,” he said.