Implementing new Policing and law enforcement

Nairobi; Kenya: It is quite unfortunate that insecurity in Kenya keep deteriorating. It seems that the security agencies and the government that is to be in control of security are totally incapable of addressing the situation. This perhaps underscores the clamor for the decentralization of the National Police Service and law enforcement.

While Inspector General of Police retains the constitutional power of overall command of the National Police Service, the Officer in Charge of National Police Service at the county should exercise significance degree of control and management of the Service at the County. Such an Officer fully understands the situational dynamics and conditions on the ground standing at critical point of developing close partnership and collaboration with county authorities and local population. This arrangement promotes greater degree of accountability and responsibility to the Officer in charge to ensure National Police Service is delivery. More National Police Service financial resources should be channeled to County Policing and Law Enforcement.

National Police Service is constitutional shielded from administrative and bureaucratic control of the Civil Service. This is a fact IGP David Kimaiyo is yet to come to terms with. With constitutional obliteration of the Provincial Administration, County Government has fully established administrative structure to the lowest level in the County in compliance with the law. The National Police Service is expected to establish an elaborate policing and law enforcement system corresponding to this County administrative structure.

This Policing and Law enforcement system is answerable to the office of the Inspector General of Police as per the Constitution through the Officer in charge of National Police Service at the County. This also gives County Government some level of responsibility and indirect supervisory power over policing activities at the County, where local population keep raising concerns with them (county Governments) on security matters. The Officer in charge at the County is responsible for giving security briefs.

This arrangement backed with well-resourced specialized police units handling organized crimes and related as well as National Police Service working very closely with the office of Director of Public Prosecutions, would security improve tremendously. Government should stop wasting public money in such useless initiatives as nyumba kumi. Money should be invested in policing and law enforcement system which bring impact to the people.