Prison officers fight crime in the streets

Tens of prison officers have been deployed in major streets in urban centres to help police enforce the law.

The officers will have powers to arrest any suspect as the war against crime intensifies. This follows a request from Inspector General of Police David Kimaiyo to Commissioner General of Prisons Isaiah Osugo.

“Police occasionally request for reinforcement to assist in normal security patrols and extreme situations like emergencies. This is part of the regular deployments around the country and in particular major urban areas,” said Mr Osugo.

Mr Kimaiyo said the warders’ deployment was normal.

“Let the public support us in the war against crime. They are part of us,” said Kimaiyo.

This came in the wake of reports that police are overstretched as the Christmas holiday beckons. Tens of police officers are deployed to protect VIPs who have increased in the past days. All MPs are entitled to at least one police bodyguard each and two each for their homes upcountry or in the city. Some policemen are also deployed to some of these VIPs as their drivers.

The Chief Justice, Central Bank Governor, the Speaker of the National Assembly and his Senate counterpart, IG, his deputies, the Chief of Defence Forces are also in the league of the fortified. These public officers have a chase car, at least five guards, and another division protecting their spouses and children.

An unspecified number of influential personalities, former Cabinet members, and retired public servants also have police guards – because of risks posed by decisions they made and information they accessed while in office.

Some parastatal chiefs, principal secretaries and even deputy secretaries are also entitled to police bodyguards. Those in the top hierarchy of the police service are also assigned bodyguards some of whom double up as their drivers.