On paper, the average 115 per cent pay rise given to the police sounds hefty, in fact, extravagant. But some officers are not celebrating yet.

After the "massive" increase, the take-home for a majority of the 34,000-strong force remains around Sh10,000, falling below the Sh15,000 minimum salary promised to the officers by Narc luminaries in the run-up to last year's General Election.

"We feel cheated," says a corporal at the Kasarani police station, Nairobi. "This is not what they promised us. It is demoralising when you work for a government that does not keep promises so eloquently stated."

The officer says he would rather the pay pledge waited a little longer if it would have been eventually delivered as per the electoral pledge.

Regardless of the officers' expectations, the new salaries, effective from January next year, but backdated to July, this year, are, however, a significant jump from the Sh4,645 a month salary previously earned by a constable–the lowest rank in the force.

Announcing the police remuneration after a State House meeting with senior police officers, President Mwai Kibaki reiterated his Government's wish to improve the working conditions of the force.

Besides increasing the salaries, the President promised to have the officers' housing, transport and communication and work equipment improved.

The President's statement, whether by design or fortuitous, was timely in allaying a growing disenchantment within the force that was allegedly growing restive from perceived government neglect.

According to Police Commissioner Edwin Nyaseda, the police, at minimum, requires 29,000 new houses and 2,300 new vehicles. The cost would be many times the modest budget reserved for the force.

According to sources, the policemen's main grouse was that the President had earlier awarded a huge pay rise to members of the armed forces but maintained a studious silence on their case. On Narc's campaign trail, there was no doubt the police plight was the more desperate one.

Weeks before the presidential announcement, Mr Nyaseda conceded his officers were demoralised and appealed to the government to improve the officers' welfare.

He warned that the envisaged economic recovery touted by the government would be hard to achieve in a climate of rampant insecurity.

"The county cannot realise any meaningful economic growth without security," Mr Nyaseda told a meeting of senior officers at the CID Training Institute, Nairobi.

Police spokesman King'ori Mwangi, however, denies knowledge of any widespread discontent in the force.

Says Mr Mwangi: "The force has been dedicated to serving the country as ever. What may have been construed as murmurs of disapproval in the force are likely to have been voices of a few disgruntled elements who are a part of any organisation."

The spokesman says the force is, by and large, happy with the promised pay rise as a starting point. He considers it a good deal.

"How often do you hear of an employer awarding more than a 100 per cent pay increase at one fell swoop?" Mr Mwangi posed.

The police, according to their spokesman, would not feel belittled by comparing themselves to the armed forces because the two have "unique differences in needs."

With the awarded salary increase, are Kenyans about to witness improved police service?

"Salary in itself can not be a guarantee to professional services. More money for the officers without attendant improvement in the overall force structure will, for instance, neither reduce corruption nor improve efficiency," Mr Mwangi warns.

He says the force is aware of this fact. A reform committee headed by Principal Deputy Commissioner of Police Alice Kagunda and mandated to look at what ails the force has been formed.

In addition, a private research organisation has been contracted to solicit public opinion on dos and don'ts for the force necessary to improve its efficiency.

Kenya Human Rights Commission programme officer in charge of police reforms, Mr Steve Ouma, thinks the reforms in the office have missed a key focus.

"In as much as low pay and dilapidated facilities have eroded the performance of police, lack of accountability to citizens, respect for law and a colonial attitude to their role limits officers efficiency," Mr Ouma says.

He hopes the draft constitution's proposal for the creation of the Police Service Commission headed by a commissioner enjoying a security of tenure will be approved.

The proposal recommends that the commissioner, who must be a graduate, be appointed by the President subject to Parliamentary approval. He will serve a single ten-year term.

Office of the President assistant minister Stephen Tarus says the government is serious about reforming the force. It is not opposed to greater police autonomy, he says.

"We will respect and support any meaningful attempts to professionalise the police. If the people through their delegates want an independent police boss, that is what they will get," Mr Tarus says.

Although Mr Mwangi and the government are waxing optimistic on the promise the reforms offer to the much-maligned force, there are myriad and complex issues that it must tackle efficiently to reclaim its glory.

"We are beginning with areas that do not need extra money or legislation," Mr Mwangi says. He categorises the changes as reforming and revamping.

The former is easy and already on-going because it requires no material extras according to Mr Mwangi. It includes opening up to and befriending the public. There will be no more cover-ups and need to shield the force because it has now ‘opened up' , according to the spokesman.

Ms Michelle Kagari of Human Rights initiative considers a friendly force an urgent necessity.

She says: "People go to the police as a last resort. Police are considered either hostile, indifferent or sadistic. The force must be tutored in public relations, integrity and accountability." 

Then there is the contentious issue of partisan loyalties to criminals, politicians and interest groups. 

Asked why it takes so long for police to respond to distress calls even in areas known to be crime-prone, the spokesman retorts that his officers cannot take blame for the unplanned city estates that make access and locating a crime scene a nightmare.

"In any cases, many such cases involve murder and rape, two crimes that are often premeditated and thus difficult to pre-empt," Mr Kingori says. 

Mr Ouma does not buy Mr Mwangi's argument. He says it is evident that officers are partnering criminals in crime and suggests a radical purge of officers to severe the "mafia links."

The greatest headache for the force remains the revamping bit. There are too many financial requirements reliant on the paltry Sh300 million set aside for police modernisation in the 2003/2004 budget. 

But the police, according to the spokesman, were not always this needy.

"In 1970, we had 4,000 vehicles for 10 million people. In 2002, with 30 million people, the force had only 1,000 vehicles!" Mr Mwangi reveals.

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