By Cyrus Ombati
Nairobi, Kenya: A team established to identify equipment that police need urgently to tackle crime says vehicles and protection gear are a priority.
The team supposed to spearhead modernisation of the National Police Service said officers are incapacitated in several other ways but they urgently need vehicles, protection gear and houses.
They met Tuesday at the Treasury as directed by President Uhuru Kenyatta last week to ensure fast and smooth procurement of resources needed.
Inspector General of Police David Kimaiyo told The Standard the meeting was the third in a week and they were moving fast to ensure the required resources are sourced.
Most urgent
“Already, we have established vehicles and protective gear are the most urgent needs for us to move forward. We even told the President this,” he said.
Mr Kimaiyo added the meeting of officials from Treasury, Police and the Office of the President is supposed to manage the modernisation process.
“We are moving with the right speed and already, the team has made various decisions that will benefit us,” he said. Other officials said the use of CCTV cameras as a policing component in major cities and highways will be incorporated in the National Policing Plan.
It also emerged police commanders have advised the Government to stop purchasing Grand Tiger vehicles because of the problems they face in maintaining them.
The commanders told Kimaiyo at a meeting in Nairobi that they are usually forced to hire lorries to transport the vehicles to Nairobi for repairs whenever they break down.
“We told him these vehicles are not economical because whenever they break down, they have to be brought to Nairobi for repairs. It is an expense to us,” said an insider.
Kimaiyo said they are looking into the commanders’ complaints.
Uhuru directed that Sh4 billion be set aside annually starting this financial year for the purchase of equipment to boost security.
