Why We Do Not Recruit Short People - Kenya Police
Appearing before a recently concluded Senate committee, the National Police Service Commission sought to explain why short people are excluded from recruitment.
The Commission's CEO Peter Leley stated that short people are deemed incapable to confront criminals, leading to the establishment of minimum height and weight requirements for applicants. Men must be at least 5.8ft tall and 54.55kg, while women must be 5.3ft and 50kg. Female candidates are not permitted to be pregnant during recruitment or training.
“With due respect to short people and I am not saying they cannot do the job, taller people are seen as capable of executing an arrest. They are able to pin down a criminal as they are also heavier. How do you expect a 1GB person to pin down a heavyweight,” he posed.
Lesley argued that most criminals are strong hence the need for officers to match their physical capabilities. Uasin Gishu Senator Jackson Mandago dissented, saying height and weight should not be criteria to recruit youth into the Directorate of Criminal Investigation. The Kenya National Police Service is divided into three branches: Kenya Police Service, Kenya Administrative Police Service, and Directorate of Criminal Investigation.
Recruitment for the police force has recently come under sharp scrutiny, prompting leaders to call for changes to the criteria used. Academic qualifications, height, physical fitness, and overall health are all considered when assessing potential officers. Once chosen, they must serve under the National Police Service Commission for a minimum of 10 years, with the possibility of being released early if they become unfit to serve due to medical issues, mental health, or corruption. Before being allowed to join, recruits must complete a 15-month training program, including a 3-month internship.
Comments
This is old school thinking…
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This is old school thinking. Police job doesn't require muscles or height to perform the task. It requires your mind
In the US that is called…
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In the US that is called discrimination. Big lawsuit it is.
Leley should also explain…
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Leley should also explain how he and other commissioners were recruited.How can people who lack police training and experience be bosses to armed policemen?I remember former IG,Kimaiyo lecturing Kavuludi,former commission chairman to investigate for himself how human heads were dumped at his office and his residence.
Not sure what the height…
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Not sure what the height restrictions are for but how is 5'8" tall? Given the size of cars in Kenya you'd think shorter would be preferred
There is a special tool used…
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There is a special tool used by police to equalize things.Its called the Colt.38 police special.With that even afour foot police could neutrolize a goliath.I would rather have a criminal fear the COLT that look at the arresting officer's height and weight as a joke.
Ok jokes aside.It is true that most police academies have height,or should I say physical requirements in order to qualify as apolice man or women. Interestingly UK has done away with those requirements as they are kind of disciminatory,and unnecessary in some capacities...This,Iread somewhere awhile ago. So before you attack me,please find out...I dont mind being corrected.Since the issue is not that serious,I did not see the need to look and lick the article here...
My take is that this requirement stems from our perception that tall people can protect.This is more so from women's pont of view.Height is one of a the attributes women desire in men.Some go as far as wanting only men over 6feet tall.I see this requirement in future disappearing as we may probably create AI policemen,and women.
So it’s all perception that…
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So it’s all perception that justifies blatant discrimination!
Not that short people were created by the devil in the eyes of the devil!
If you are short you cannot…
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If you are short you cannot be strong. Shenzi.
Short pp can work office…
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Short pp can work office jobs and other non physically demanding stuff. Short small can also pass thru small spaces.
This idiot called Leley…
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This idiot called Leley confuses these chubby, mafin-top waistline cops we see in Zamunda ( Kenya) with a 6pack dude!..n'gombe ya mwisho!..police should know how to de-escalate, and if unable call for back or maim( shot) the lower limbs
pure discrimination. no…
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pure discrimination. no wonder you have too many killings among your police. You select any imbecile who happens to tall
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