Interior Cabinet Secretary has banned senior police officers from engaging in love affairs incuding marrying their juniors.
The move is aimed at curbing a rise in sexual harassment and indiscipline within the service.
“We cannot look away anymore.The process is ongoing to create an office of Ethics and Gender Relations under the Inspector General of National Police Service , coupled with a strengthening of Service Standing Orders to ensure cases of gender based violence are promptly delt with,” he said.
He said should police officers who fall in love and desire to marry one of them must quit the service, kicking up a storm.
The directive will be implemented by the National Police Service from July this year.
Amused Kenyans took to social media to wonder how this directive will be implemented some saying it is an affront to the right of association.
“How are they going to police matters of the heart, will the police be able to police their hearts,” posed amused Kenyan.
Others supported him saying it is the practice in many other work places and police is not an exemption.
Two weeks ago a police officer attached to Matiangi’s office shot and killed his wife a policewoman before turning the gun on himself and killing himself.
The incident sent shock waves in the police service where such murders of married colleagues were on the rise.
He made the remarks when presiding over the official commencement of the Kenya Police service(KPS) Cadet course, at the Kenya Police Training Collage Kiganjo, Nyeri County.
“As part of changes in training of our senior Police Officers, the Direct Entry Cadet Inspectors Course will focus on training leaders in mentoring their juniors and building networks with communities as policing adapts to the ever changing modern environment.” He said.
