Treasury allocates Sh67 billion to police, scraps buying of vehicles

By CYRUS OMBATI

Kenya: The National Police Service has been allocated Sh67 billion this financial year to boost security in the country.

 While presenting the 2013/14 budget in Parliament yesterday, National Treasury Cabinet Secretary Henry Rotich said security was paramount in achieving the country’s development goals.

 The Sh67 billion is an increase in allocation compared to last financial year’s Sh65.9 billion.

He said the Government is modernising the National Police to ensure it delivers effective services to the public.

“We have set aside Sh67 billion for modern security equipment in the National Police Service. Security must prevail in the whole country to make sure that trade grows,” he said.

 Of the allocation, Sh4 billion will be used to purchase new equipment, Sh4.5 billion for police operations and Sh1.5 billion for crime research to help police plan for future actions.

Rotich added that Sh1.2 billion has been allocated for rapid development of housing projects for the police through the National Housing Corporation.

 The Secretary further allocated Sh3 billion for the hire of more than 1,200 vehicles to boost police operations. This, he said, will be part of the wider programme to look into the police welfare to ensure the force meets its obligation.

Firms interested in leasing the vehicles have until June 27 to do so. The National Treasury put up an advert asking firms interested to bid.

 This is part of the Government’s plan to modernise the service and enable the police deliver to the public.

 “The fleet to be leased will comprise approximately 1,200 vehicles of different makes ranging from 1300 cc to 3500cc including saloon, utility as commercial vehicles of up to 15 tonnes, with coverage expected to be approximately 60 million kilometres annually on aggregate,” said part of the advert.

 The arrangement, according to the advert, shall include insurance, scheduled and unscheduled maintenance, replacement of non-functional vehicles, globally benchmarked fleet management, implants in government offices to monitor the fleet and capacity building for personnel.

 The notice stated that the current Government model in which ministries manage their fleet has often been accompanied by increased costs of transport services without commensurate improvements in services delivery.