With the ongoing insecurity cases reported in the country, the Ministry of Interior and Coordination of National Government has held the premier joint meeting of all security commanders in both the National Government Administration and the National Police Service.
The Inspector General of Police, Joseph Boinnet, also unveiled the newly appointed Police County Commanders, concluding the formation of the new police command structure in line with the reforms announced by H.E. President Uhuru Kenyatta last year.
The interactive conference comes in the wake of the recent attack in Nairobi’s 14 Riverside Drive where 21 people lost their lives. It, therefore, provided the opportunity for the security sector to reflect on the advances made in carrying out their cardinal responsibility of protecting Kenyans and their property and creating a peaceful economic environment for investors.
While thanking security officers for their selfless acts of valour and unconditional dedication to duty, the Cabinet Secretary for the Ministry of Interior and Coordination of National
Government, Dr. Fred Matiang’i, reiterated that the Government remains resolute and uncompromising in discharging its duty of securing the country from belligerents and criminal elements.
“The multi-agency approach in the management of the security sector is here to stay and all of us, as the leaders must ensure effective coordination, information sharing and joint security actions in our respective areas of jurisdiction,” Dr. Matiang’i stated.
He also urged those present to foster citizen participation in security issues through interventions such as the Nyumba Kumi, Peace Elders, Community Policing, and Village Elders among others, adding that the Government will intensify efforts to engage all neighbourhoods and communities across the country in policing and security initiatives.
He said: “I urge you to work hard on the “know your neighbour campaigns” to encourage members of the general public to share information on security related matters with the authorities in real time. We must encourage individual and collective responsibility for security amongst our people.”
Dr. Matiang’i pointed out that the swift and well-coordinated response by security officers during the recent dusitD2 attack in Nairobi proved that the robust modernization programme and reformation agenda within the National Police Service and the National Government Administration are already yielding fruits.
Dr. Matiang’i echoed these remarks and described the media as one of the key stakeholders and an active player in the management of security issues.
“It is the policy of government that we behave and interact as a civilized community; we will always respect the freedom of the press for we are bound by law at all times to work with and support the press,” Dr. Matiang’i stated, and reassured media practitioners that the Government will support them.
The CS also took issue with the recent proliferation of illegal firearms in the country and restated that the new Firearms Licensing and Control Board is in the process of issuing new smart licenses fitted with micro-chips to civilian firearms holders and concurrently creating a digital register of all holders to curb crime.
“The police officers know the pain we are going through to collect evidence of crime due to unlicensed firearms. Every civilian holding a gun must have the new license a card by 18th of March,” Dr. Matiang’i reiterated.
In the same breath, the CS directed that all Kenya Police Reservists and National Police Reservists be registered for orderliness and better management of equipping the officers before the Government embarks on countrywide operation to mop up illegal firearms.
Dr. Matiang’i also reminded the Regional Commissioners and County Commissioners to step up cooperation with other ministries in the implementation of key government projects, including but not limited to the National Integrated Identity Management System, which shall be rolled out soon.