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The Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) has told the Committee on Administration and Internal Security that lack of funding serves a major challenge to the effective execution of their mandate.
In a session chaired by Saku MP, Col. (Rtd) Hon. Dido Rasso, the Committee was appraised on the issues affecting the Authority’s operations and mitigation measures.
In her presentation, the Authority’s chairperson, Mrs. Anne Makori said that inadequate annual Budgetary Allocation has been hampering delivery of IPOA’s services.
“ The Authority’s operations are field-based which involves travelling across the Country to conduct investigations and attend court cases, inspect police premises and monitor police operations. The Authority has sustained collaborations and engagements with relevant Parliamentary Committees and National Treasury to secure increased budgetary allocations”, noted Mrs. Makori
According documents presented to the Committee, the Authority also disclosed that they are currently experiencing shortage of staff.
Their records show that the Authority has a staffing of 254 against an establishment of 1377
“ The inadequate staffing has largely contributed to the backlog of operations in the Authority. We have already placed a request before the Public Service Commission and the National Treasury to facilitate recruitment of more staff as per the approved establishment.” Mrs. Makori explained
Committee Members also sought to know how the Authority is handling the overlapping mandates and duplicity of roles between IPOA, Internal Affairs and the Directorate of Criminal Investigation (DCI).
Mr. Elema Halake, the CEO of the Authority, who was also present in the meeting told the Committee that he had held a consultative meeting with the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions and the issue had been resolved.
“The Director of Public Prosecution has issued a directive that he will only receive files from IPOA”, said Mr. Halake.
IPOA’s main mandate is to provide for civilian oversight over the work of the National Police Service (NPS).
