Kenya Human Rights Commission -KHRC has revealed that there is a deliberate attempt to delay reforms in the police service by some politicians who happen to be holding big offices emphasising that the country needs the police reforms before the next general elections.

Addressing the press in Nairobi on Tuesday, KHRC commission senior programme Officer Tom Kagwe has revealed that there is need to investigate the politicians behind the slow pace that is being witnessed towards police reforms despite key bills being passed by parliament.

Kagwe revealed that among the many challenges facing the police reforms is the formation of the National Police Service Commission whose names of the commissioners are yet to be debated in parliament Tuesday. The prime minister earlier indicated that he was not consulted on the names prompting parliament to present more names to parliament for debate.

The Commission is calling upon members of parliament to debate knowing that there are a lot of things waiting for the commission and as they debate they should look beyond the ethnic backgrounds of the persons and focus more on the capabilities, integrity and independence of the named individuals.

“The National Police Service Bill is very important and was passed by parliament last year though not yet implemented it cannot be found even in government printers. We need to know the provisions of the bills if they are in line with human rights especially the intelligence Bill,” Kagwe added.

Last week the Parliamentary Committee on National Security rejected President Mwai Kibaki’s nomination of Amina Masoud to head the National Police Service Commission and instead proposed its own nominees.

 The committee which is chaired by Mt Elgon MP Fred Kapondi wants MPs to support its choice of a one-time FIDA Executive Director Jean Njeri Kamau, former Interim Independent Boundaries Review Commission commissioner Murshid Mohamed and Johnston Kavuludi.