Counties face delicate balance in boosting security

By SHITEMI KHAMADI

The Constitution is clear that security is a national Government function. The cost of devolved functions based on the 2014/15 budget estimates show that the Ministry of Interior and Coordination of National Government has allocated nothing to counties. This is a constitutionally accurate decision.

When you look at ongoing implementation of budgets by some governors, many are coming up with proactive measures of engaging the security function. They are aware that it is a national Government function, but so far have gone ahead to buy police cars. That is the script in Nyeri, Mombasa and Machakos counties among others. Some like Machakos have promised to fuel and service the vehicles.

The national Government on its part has started leasing equipment. Police vehicles are the first and a tender was given out to a firm to lease vehicles to the police as a cost cutting measure.

Leasing ensures that maintenance of the vehicles, which has been a tough call for the police, is done by the lessor, hence their vehicles will or should at all times be in good condition and thereby boost their function.

Truth is, the national Government has over the years experienced inefficiencies in this critical function. It is poorly financed, and where some resources are allocated, corruption is the order of the day as cartels run the ministry and determine where, how and when bread will be buttered.

The most critical personnel and areas don’t even get the bread itself, leave alone butter it.When the county governments buy these cars, they give them to the National Police Service. So it is like they decide to assist the national Government undertake its function. Like the case of Machakos where the county will be fuelling and servicing the cars, which can be regarded as a kind of leasing arrangement.

There are a few issues to pick out. One, the county government’s primary function is security provision to its citizens. So county governments have decided they will not take a back seat and must contribute in the best way towards enabling their security officers to better deliver this critical function.

Secondly, any county targeting investors must assure them of security. This reality informed governors to do something about security within their jurisdictions. No investor will invest in an insecure area. It is not rocket science to know that Governor Mutua for instance wants investors to target his county as a ripe alternative to the over-polluted and congested Nairobi. But any investor eyeing Machakos will still target Nairobi to tap its intellectual capital and market.

So what exactly is the role of the county governments in the security function? One is enshrined in the National Police Service Act, which establishes the County Police Authority headed by the Governor or his representative county executive member.

It has a broad membership including two members from the County Assembly, National Police Service representatives like the county commander and county criminal investigations officer, the business community, women, youth, and the disabled, among others, and meets at least once in three months. Its main function is to entrench public participation through community policing and design strategies to improve security in the counties. This does not include performance appraisal and disciplining of police officers.

Another concern is whether the investment in security supercedes other critical county development agendas. You look at things like infrastructure, health facilities and equipment, personnel, trade development and regulation of markets among other functions and wonder whether the resources and input expended by the counties is commensurate to returns or needs of the county. Basically, this is a priority concern.

But how can we reduce corruption in the police? Salary increases have always been touted as a solution, on the presumption that if their remuneration is increased, they will be less corrupt. Probably this view should also consider the grand corruption among the best paid officers in the civil service to find out the correlation. It could be just a matter of greed. Input towards other amenities in the security agencies should help improve service delivery. Housing, for instance, is a national shame. The houses most police officers occupy are in deplorable condition. Is this something the county government should also consider?

Any proactive county government will not leave unattended the security function. It will — and has to — invest in it but must consider whether that investment is worth the amount and energy vis-a-vis other critical devolved functions. The monies budgeted must not only be worth it, but also rewarding in the short and long term.

As they say, security starts with you. You should focus on how safe you are and work toward making your neighborhood a safer place to live in. How you do this remains what you consider as tangible and useful toward making your life more long lasting on earth.

County governments investing in security are following this elementary principle. But they should not do so at the expense of other critical needs. Finding a balance is important so that no sector is left unattended as society looks forward to realising its desired growth. This balance is also determined by the unique nature of each county.