Kimaiyo: Police need Sh150b for reforms

By Cyrus Ombati

Nairobi, Kenya: The National Police Service urgently needs Sh150 billion to enhance proposed reforms, Inspector General of Police DavidKimaiyo has said.

Kimaiyo said the money will help them devolve police services as proposed in law, equip the police and recruit more personnel. He said lack of funds and resources is hindering police reforms.

He said the National Police Service Commission intends to deploy County commanders by end of May but their services cannot be felt if there are no monies to mobilise them.

“We cannot achieve the proposed reforms if we do not have money and that is why we are asking the government to urgently consider the issue and allocate the funds for easy delivery of services,” he said.

He said part of the money will also help in acquiring more vehicles to enhance police mobility in the areas.

He said the proposed reforms in the service call for creation of new structures and employment of more personnel to meet the UN recommended ratio of 1:450.

He said security is paramount for any form of development in the society hence need for investment in it.

“It is in this regard therefore, that Kenya must have a police service which is properly equipped. The clamour for reforms has been with us for some time now and whereas some ground has been covered, there is still a lot that has to be done,” said Kimaiyo.

He made the remarks in Nairobi when he presided over the launch of the Nairobi Crime Observatory Report for the 2011-2012.

Kimaiyo said the forensic laboratory at the CID headquarters should be equipped to help solve crime puzzles that take long to uncover, within the shortest time possible.

He also called for concerned parties to address the social factors that contribute to crime which include refugee influx through the borders, proliferation of illegal small arms, criminal gangs, inequitable distribution of resources, poor urban planning, poverty and unemployment.Kimaiyo asked the County governments to address the issues as part of efforts to contain crime.

The police boss also asked the County Government of Nairobi to fast track the installation of CCTV cameras t in the city.

“I acknowledge that it is an expensive undertaking but then it is even more expensive to fail to take advantage of this technological development,” he said.

About 200 reforms were proposed and budget for them given out but little has been achieved. Save for some Acts that have been passed in Parliament to mobilise the proposed reforms nothing much has been achieved because of what insiders term as lack of political goodwill.