Kenya’s Chiefs Want 5 Police Officers Deployed To Each For Protection
National government administrators, led by Dr. Abdi Hassan, Chair of the Regional Commissioners, have urged President William Ruto to expedite the deployment of police officers to protect chiefs across the country.
Dr Hassan spoke at a meeting on Tuesday, August 20, at the Kenya School of Government in Kabete, about the growing vulnerability of chiefs, who have recently been targeted by violent attacks.
The President of Kenya, H.E. William Ruto, today met with Regional Commissioners, County Commissioners, and Deputy County Commissioners at the Kenya School of Government, Lower Kabete. pic.twitter.com/WStstC6wKS
— Kenya School of Govt (@KSGKenya) August 20, 2024
“We request that the proposal to establish the National Government Administration Police Unit (NGAPU) is fast-tracked,” stated Dr Hassan.
“We are aware that the CS and the PS are working on this but we are requesting that it be fast-tracked because it will be able to support us in the enforcement of civil and security duties.”
Dr. Hassan emphasized the importance of deploying police officers to chiefs, citing recent incidents in which chiefs have been attacked, maimed, and even killed while carrying out their duties.
The proposal to station five police officers for each chief aims to strengthen their security while carrying out their responsibilities at the grassroots level.
Dr Hassan also addressed the perception that National Government Administration Officers (NGAOs) play no role in security matters because they are not listed as a security organ in the Constitution.
He urged President Ruto to strengthen their coordination position with an executive order, pointing out that while security organs are subject to civilian oversight, NGAOs play an important role in maintaining law and order.
“Since National Government Administration Officers (NGAOs) are not one of the security organs mentioned in the Constitution, there is a perception that they have no role in security matters,” Dr Hassan stated.
“Yet the said organs are subordinates or subservient to civilian oversight. Hence, we request that our coordination position be reinforced through an executive order.”
Dr Hassan also called for an increase in the ministry’s allocations to ensure that the NGAOs can efficiently and effectively implement the services entrusted to them.
He identified several areas where these resources would be critical, such as training, digitization, and national government function coordination.
The meeting, which included Regional Commissioners, County Commissioners, and Deputy County Commissioners, explained the critical role that NGAOs play in ensuring that local government functions run smoothly.
Chiefs are among the lowest levels of conflict resolution in Kenya’s justice system, putting them in direct contact with citizens.
Kenya’s Chiefs Want 5 Police Officers Deployed To Each For Protection
