Police reforms key to solving insecurity in Kenya
Following the second attack in Mandera Town in Kenya in less than two weeks, leading to the death of 36 people, Kenya’s police chief announced his retirement and the Internal Security Cabinet Secretary was removed. But this is not enough to improve security.
The Coalition for Constitution Implementation (CCI), in response to recent changes in the Security sector, wishes to state as follows THAT:
1. The resignation of Inspector General of Police and the removal of Cabinet Secretary for Security Joseph Ole Lenku and replacing him with Joseph Nkaissery is just the first step to solving insecurity in Kenya.
2. The illegal amendments to the National Police Service Act 2011 and the National Police Service Commission Act 2011 are responsible for the confusion in the Security sector as they did not only take away the independence of the National Police Service Commission (NPSC) but also eroded the gains that were realised regarding Police Reforms due to promulgation of the Constitution of Kenya 2010.
3. The politicization of the Security sector is also another reason for the deteriorating Security situation in Kenya. Furthermore appointment of Nkaissery from the opposition party has got more to do with solving a political question than Security question.
4. That the trend of appointing people with military background to head internal Security docket is responsible for the apathy in the police service as those in the service who have been working hard feel ignored.
CCI therefore demands THAT:
1. All the illegal amendments that were done to the Police Laws be dropped with immediate effect.
2. Police Reforms as envisaged by the constitution of Kenya 2010 be jumpstarted
3. The increasing militarization of the police service be stopped with immediate effect.
4. The politicization of the police service be stopped with immediate effect
5. The KDF in Somalia be withdrawn and placed to man the porous borders of Kenya and Somalia.
6. Should the attacks continue, then the government should take responsibility as a government that cant protect his people has got no business being in power
Finally CCI thanks all CSOs who participated in #OccupyHarambeeAve and subsequent actions as without this government would have not acted.
* Cidi Otieno David is the Convener of Coalition for Implementation of the Constitution, a Kenyan lobby group.