THE report recommending the immediate and total overhaul of the police was yesterday presented to President Kibaki and Prime Minister Raila Odinga. The report compiled by the task force on police reforms led by Justice Philip Ransley first met with Kibaki, Raila, Internal Security Minister Prof George Saitoti and Foreign Affairs Minister Moses Wetangula for several hours before handing over their report.

The team has now up to September 30 to compile a final report that will contain all recommendations needed for effective reforms in the police. Ransley told the Star that it was up to the President and Prime Minister to act on some of the recommendations contained in the interim report.

"Our assignment was to give our initial report containing our recommendations and it is now up to the President and the minister in charge to act on them," he said on the phone after the handing over ceremony at Harambee House at noon. Ransley and his team were appointed in May this year to investigate shortcomings within the police sector and recommend possible remedies.

The interim report recommends, among other key issues, the total overhaul of leadership in regular and administration police forces. It says that the public will ',only have trust in reforms when visible changes are initiated at the highest leadership level in the two law enforcement agencies which have in recent months been wrangling.

The report recommends among others, the removal of several senior police including police commissioner Maj General Ali Hussein. It was not immediately clear whether the government will act on the recommendations immediately or will wait for a month when the Ransley team is expected to have presented its final report.

Other recommendations in the report include reviewing the system used in the hiring of senior police officers to ensure that only those with proven leadership and managerial skills, high moral integrity and ability to spearhead reforms are appointed.

The Ransley team also recommends that a more intense screening system to weed out unsuitable candidates be established at the recruitment stage. The 20-page interim report has already caused disquiet within the police departments with senior officers trashing it as populist and driven by vested interests.

The recommendations have however been welcomed by junior officers.