Silent squabbles are disrupting the deployment of Kenyan police officers to Haiti on a United Nations-backed mission.
The stalemate reportedly puts junior officers against their elders over the contentious issue of allowances, which has reportedly been discussed for a long time, albeit secretly.
On Monday, the country’s senior police chiefs met at the Embakasi AP training academy to discuss the stalemate after some younger officers apparently brought it up.
The policemen were previously promised Ksh 100,000 before leaving, but this has been reduced by Ksh 80,000, per The Standard.
“This is not what they promised us. They are giving us only Ksh 20,000 to take care of our shopping before departure. Surely, what can it buy? Does it mean that we are leaving our families empty-handed?” said one of the officers.
However, their senior counterparts who are apparently set to get generous perks and allowances.
For example, Noor Gabow, the Deputy Inspector General (DIG) of Police, is set oversee the Haiti deployment from both Nairobi and Washington.
Gabow, who will coordinate the mission from the two cities will receive full reimbursement for all travel and lodging expenses, as well as a monthly allowance of nearly Ksh 1.5 million.
On the other hand, Samuel Chebet will command officers from the General Service Unit (GSU), while Geoffrey Otunge, Director of Operations at the AP headquarters, will lead the Administration Police (AP).
Chebet and Otunge will also receive significant benefits, including an allowance of over Ksh 1 million.
Additionally, it appears that junior officers have yet to be provided life insurance despite embarking on a dangerous mission outside their jurisdiction.
At the time of their deployment, the only commitment the police officers have received is that each officer, in addition to their regular pay back home, which will continue to be paid, will receive a monthly allowance ranging from Ksh 150,000 to Ksh 200,000 for the lowest-ranked officers.
