The meeting which took place two days ago on Friday night, was to address a stalemate that has delayed the recruitment of 10,000 new police officers.
The meeting brought together senior figures, including the Inspector General of Police Kanja and the National Police Service Commission (NPSC) who have been at odds over the recruitment process.
The conflict has been described as a feud between Police commissioners and police chiefs, which has brought the crucial hiring to a halt.
While the NPSC has the constitutional mandate to handle police recruitment and promotions.
It had been locked in a power struggle with the police leadership, which has reportedly been reluctant to cede control.
This power struggle has led to the protracted delay in the hiring process, which has created a shortage of personnel in the police force.
A key point of contention is the police leadership’s refusal to hand over the payroll of officers to the commission.
The NPSC has a legal right to this information, as it is a critical component of its oversight role.
The Inspector-General has been has been adamant in his refusal to comply, further escalating the dispute.
This deliberate stonewalling has left the commission without the essential data it needs to perform its duties, including managing the police payroll.
The meeting at State House was a direct intervention by President Ruto to end the conflict and ensure the stalled recruitment proceeds.
The president reportedly demanded an immediate end to the standoff, giving the parties an easy time to resolve their differences.
The government has prioritized strengthening the police force, and this internal wrangling has undermined that objective.
It remains to be seen if the security bosses have heeded the president’s warning and will now cooperate to finalize the recruitment process.
By Kenyans