This archive report was first published on 4 August 2019.
Published on August 4, 2019, a report by the Nation has revealed disquiet within the National Police Service over special allowances paid to police officers attached to MPs, senators, and Parliament police.
The allowances, amounting to nearly Sh360 million annually, are paid to over 900 police officers by the Parliamentary Service Commission.
These officers receive an allowance of between Sh30,000 and Sh42,000 every month, in addition to their normal salaries paid by the National Police Service.
For instance, in June, the officers were paid Sh29.8 million before tax, translating to nearly Sh360 million per year.
Most of this money goes to the 600 bodyguards of the 349 MPs, with each MP having one bodyguard, but some members in the leadership of Parliament, such as the Speakers of the two Houses, have up to five bodyguards.
Police spokesman Charles Owino dismissed concerns by junior officers that the allowances are creating new disparities within the police force, stating that the positions are rotational and officers are attached to Parliament for a one-term period of three years only.
However, a source at the Parliamentary Service Commission explained that the money is for working overtime and for risks that come with working with a VIP.
Despite this, all police officers are paid a flat rate of Sh6,000 per month for risk allowance, irrespective of their ranks and stations in the country.
Police officers attached to Parliament receive additional allowances, with a superintendent of police taking home Sh42,000, a chief inspector earning Sh38,000, and an inspector also earning Sh38,000, while police officers of all other lower ranks earn a flat rate of Sh30,000.
