Report: KDF and police mistakenly kill each other during disasters

Security personnel take cover outside the Westgate Mall during the terror attack on September 23, 2013. [File, Standard]

Lack of coordination between the National Police Service (NPS) and the Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) units during disaster and terrorism responses has led to tragic incidents.

Findings in a report by a taskforce led by retired Chief Justice David Maraga reveal that poor coordination has seen security personnel mistakenly kill each other.

“The response to these disasters has been largely uncoordinated, resulting in more deaths due to infighting among the various agencies,” states the report, which described the police as corrupt, dysfunctional, incompetent and lacking leadership.

The preliminary report was released by President William Ruto on November 21 last year.

However, the full report, completed later and handed over to security agencies, highlights critical communication gaps and disjointed efforts between the security agencies as the root causes of these fatalities, particularly during responses to terror attacks.

The Maraga revelations come as Kenya marks anniversaries of major terrorist attacks, the September 21, 2013 Westgate Mall attack in Nairobi and the US 9/11 twin attacks. This also coincides with a new US terror advisory warning its citizens residing in Kenya of potential threats.

“The US Embassy in Nairobi reminds US citizens in Kenya that they should exercise increased caution due to the risks of terrorism and kidnapping. Locations frequented by US citizens and other foreigners and tourists in Nairobi and elsewhere in Kenya continue to be targets of terrorists,” the US Embassy said in an alert.

“While attacks can occur at any time, concerns are heightened in proximity to anniversaries of prior terrorist attacks, such as September 11, the September 21 Westgate Mall attack, and the October 7 Hamas attack against Israel.”

The Maraga report underscores the urgent need for enhanced coordination to protect both security personnel and civilians.

It reveals that the current lack of synergy between agencies not only endangers officers but also leaves disaster victims vulnerable.

Incidents such as floods, landslides, wildfires, road accidents, and cross-border conflicts have exposed weaknesses in the system, with the police being singled out for its dysfunction.
“There is also a lack of critical skills necessary for each stage of disaster management among various government agencies that have primary and secondary responsibilities to provide emergency assistance,” the report noted.

In a damning assessment, the report describes the National Police Service (NPS) as corrupt and incompetent, calling for new leadership and a fresh vetting process. Failures such as overuse of the police units, land grabbing, sexual harassment, injustice, indolence, and political interference have eroded public trust in the police.

“And to enhance professionalism in NPS, the Taskforce recommends that the minimum qualifications for recruitment into the Service should be raised to Grade C minus (C-) in KCSE,” the report said.

The National Taskforce on Police Reforms also highlights the struggles of other security services, such as the National Youth Service (NYS) and Kenya Prisons Service, pointing out underfunding, endemic corruption, and poor leadership.

“The police are not adequately trained or equipped to handle some of these emergencies, which often results in inefficiency and, sometimes, unnecessary loss of life,” the report states.

The report also said that special units are being overused and that Parliament and top police leadership have failed in their oversight roles, hindering much-needed reforms.

The report called for improvement in NPS’s equipment and technological capabilities to enhance rapid response and early warning systems, reducing fatalities caused by operational missteps and communication breakdowns during critical moments.

“After recruitment, the initial training should be extended from nine months to twelve, with emphasis placed on competency based training in line with international policing standards and introduction of a practical attachment component to the training of NPS officers,” the report said.