Police officers traveling to Nairobi for promotion interviews are entitled to per diem and transport allowances, Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen has clarified.
Appearing before the Senate, Murkomen explained that attending promotion board interviews is considered official duty, and officers are therefore eligible for facilitation and allowances. However, he expressed concern that many officers are often forced to use personal funds to cover travel expenses due to delays in the release of funds.
“These allowances are to be provided through their immediate supervisors, who are the designated holders of the Authority to Incur Expenditure (AIE),” Murkomen told senators.
He acknowledged that the disbursement of AIEs to field commanders sometimes experiences delays, resulting in the late payment of allowances. The CS also pointed out that some police stations currently lack serviceable vehicles, further complicating transport logistics for officers attending the interviews.
“As a result, many officers have been compelled to make personal transport arrangements to attend these important career advancement opportunities,” Murkomen noted.
The Cabinet Secretary was responding to questions raised by Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna, who sought to understand why officers traveling from different parts of the country to Nairobi for the National Police Service Promotion Board interviews are not facilitated with transport and accommodation, despite the activity being part of official duty.
Murkomen assured the Senate that the Ministry of Interior is working with the National Treasury to streamline and prioritize funding to ensure timely payment of operational and welfare-related obligations.
He also revealed that the Ministry, in collaboration with the National Police Service leadership, has rolled out a fleet improvement plan to equip police stations and posts with functional transport vehicles.
“These reforms are in line with the 2023/2024 Police and Prisons Service Reforms Taskforce recommendations, which emphasize better logistical support and welfare for officers,” Murkomen said.
