NAIROBI, Kenya, Apr 24-The government has announced plans to implement leadership programs aimed at improving succession management within the Kenya Prisons Service.
This initiative is part of a broader effort to streamline operations and ensure effective leadership within the country’s correctional services.
Interior Cabinet Secretary Kithure Kindiki explained that the leadership programs will focus on developing the skills and competencies required for effective leadership and management within the security service.
“We intend to introduce leadership programs that will help us generate the rightful command and ensure there is proper succession management such that a constable joining the Prisons Service is able to look forward to becoming a Commissioner General because there will be clear career progression and succession management,” he said Monday during the pass-out-parade of the KPS Cadets in Ruiru.
Kindiki said that the future of the country’s disciplined forces, including the National Police Service, Kenya Prisons Service, the National Intelligence Service and even the Kenya Defence Forces lies in “a health mix of recruits joining through the regular recruitment and those joining as officer cadets.”
The Interior CS further pointed out that the Government will also modernize the Prisons Training College.
While commenting on the Presidential Taskforce on reforms of the National Police Service, Kenya Prisons Service and the National Youth Service led by former chief Justice David Maraga, Kindiki expressed optimism that the implementation of the recommendations from the taskforce will play critical role in improving the capacity of the country’s security agencies.
The taskforce appointed by President William Ruto on December last year seeks to seal existing gaps within the operations of the police service and better the working conditions of security personnel.
The Maraga-led taskforce is also tasked with reviewing and recommending improvement of matters relating to welfare of officers in all cadres of the NPS and KPS and all other matters incidental to the optimal service delivery of the service.
“The terms of reference of the task force are to review the human capital management and development policies with a view of examining and reviewing standards and practices in recruitment, deployment, transfers, training, career progression, performance based and competitive promotions, reward, exit, and post-exit management,” Ruto stated in a Gazette Notice published on December 21, 2022.
