Nairobi — Police officers will be barred from engaging in the matatu or any other conflict of interest businesses if new reforms are effected.

The proposal is contained in the final draft of the Ransley report presented to President Mwai Kibaki and Prime Minister Raila Odinga on Tuesday.

The President and Prime Minister received the report from retired judge Philip Ransley at Harambee House.

Code of ethics

The report recommends the establishment of a clear code of ethics for officers.

"Police officers will be prohibited from engaging in businesses that amount to conflict of interest, especially the matatu and towing businesses," a statement released by the Presidential Press Service after the report hand-over said.

The final Ransley report also advises against the merger of the Administration Police and regular police, a proposal that had generated heated debate between the two units.

The report recommends the creation of a National Policing Council responsible for budgeting and resource allocation.

President Kibaki immediately ordered the payment of transfer and security operation allowance arrears which had ballooned to more than Sh400 million.

A pay and benefits review commission to look into the welfare of the police force would be set up.

"This will lead to, among others, implementation of a comprehensive medical insurance scheme immediately," the report recommended.

Other highlights of the report include the establishment of the Kenya Police Service to be headed by an inspector-general and the Administration Police Service to be headed by a commandant-general.

The taskforce also proposed the establishment of an Independent Policing Oversight Authority to investigate public complaints against the police service.

"The authority should be chaired by a person of the rank of judge of the High Court and members should be drawn from fields such as human resources, financial management, corporate management and religious organisations, among others," the PPS statement said.

The Police Service Commission will be created to deal with transfers, recruitment and promotions of officers but this will require a constitutional amendment as the force would now be reporting to a body separate from the Public Service Commission.

The establishment of the Police Reforms Implementation Committee was recommended to put in place the administrative, policy, legal and constitutional changes proposed in the report.

Praised taskforce

The taskforce advocated improved working conditions for officers in terms of medical, insurance and housing allowances in a bid to change policing culture and cultivate greater confidence for law enforcers among the public.

It called for the fast-tracking of the police housing programme and improved transport for all police stations.

President Kibaki promised full implementation of a National Policing Policy and National Security Policy and praised the taskforce for its diligence.

Top government officials at the occasion included Internal Security minister George Saitoti, assistant minister Orwa Ojodeh, Head of Public Service and Secretary to the Cabinet Francis Muthaura, Attorney-General Amos Wako, Police Commissioner Mathew Iteere and Administration Police Commandant Kinuthia Mbugua.