Murkomen: Police to receive 2,232 new vehicles in 3 months

The National Police Service will receive 2,232 new vehicles within the next three months as the government moves to address long-standing mobility challenges in the police service, Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen has said.

Murkomen said another 1,175 vehicles had been replaced over the past year, while 1,200 electric vehicles were expected to be delivered by the end of this year.

He spoke on Friday during the passing-out parade of GSU recruits in Embakasi, Nairobi, where he outlined reforms being implemented across the security sector, including recruitment, training, promotions, community policing and the fight against drugs and illicit alcohol.

"Finally, Your Excellency, I like to say that on the mobility front, which remains a critical part of our policing service, and to address historical mobility challenges, we have embarked on an ambitious programme to replace the old fleet," Murkomen said.

"We have replaced 1,175 vehicles over the last year, with another 2,232 set for replacement within the next three months. Another 1,200 electric vehicles under your directive are expected to be delivered by the end of this year."

Murkomen also said the government had expanded community participation in security management through the Jukwaa la Usalama initiative, following a tour of all 47 counties last year to gather views on security and service delivery challenges.

He said the initiative had been institutionalised as a framework for managing security at the local level, with county security committees instructed to involve communities in security management.

He said the groups involved include motorcycle taxi operators, religious leaders, business people and the youth.

"In areas where this has been implemented, we have witnessed a significant security improvement," Murkomen said.

"Security is better managed bottom-up rather than top-down approach, which involves security managers merely giving directives to combat the menace."

The Interior Cabinet Secretary said a component of the initiative targeting students in universities and other higher learning institutions had also been implemented to address security concerns in colleges.

He said the government had also revitalised the anti-narcotics unit following a directive by President William Ruto, transforming it into a national anti-narcotics investigations bureau.

According to Murkomen, 208 additional officers had been recruited for the unit, and vehicles were being procured to strengthen its operations.

He said the changes had been accompanied by operations against drug trafficking and illicit alcohol.

"Consequently, major crackdowns across the country have been undertaken, leading to the arrest of drug traffickers as well as suppliers, brewers, and sellers of illicit alcohol," he said.

Murkomen also outlined measures targeting the National Police Service's human resources, saying a new human resource management system had been introduced to account for National Police Reservists and ensure they are paid, trained and supervised.

He said 700 additional National Police Reservists had been recruited and were undergoing training at the training centre in Meru County, with their graduation scheduled for next week.

"NPR allowances are now being paid promptly while we are working to enrol them in SHA, and their kitting is underway under the NYS to ensure that police officers serve Kenyans better," he said.

Murkomen said the government had also changed the police training curriculum to include human rights, constitutionalism, the rule of law and community policing.

Five regional training centres have been upgraded and refurbished, while field training campuses have been opened at Isiolo and Magadi, according to the CS.

He said the National Police College main campus at Kiganjo was also being positioned to play a greater role in professional policing education.

The reforms have also included promotions, with Murkomen saying more than 4,000 officers had been promoted on merit.

He said the government had also enhanced the authority to incur expenditure for police stations and subcounty headquarters, with 1,277 police stations and 408 subcounty headquarters covered.

Regional police headquarters were also receiving AIEs, he said.

Murkomen further said the National Government Administration Police Unit had been operationalised and its officers strengthened.

The reforms come as the National Police Service continues to expand recruitment and training.

The service said more than 6,000 newly trained officers completed training at the Kiganjo passing-out parade held in August, while more recruits have since completed training at other police campuses.

Murkomen said the government would continue supporting the police with resources as it seeks to address security challenges and improve service delivery.

Our police officers continue to put their lives on the line in protecting our fellow citizens, and some serve unnoticed in remote corners of our country," he said.