COSMETIC SECURITY CHANGES WILL SOLVE NOTHING While the recent changes at the security docket have warmed the hearts of many it is too early to celebrate. The troubles facing the countrys security cant be solved through cosmetic changes. I have always argued that the haphazard and casual manner in which Ole Lenku was appointed shows the Jubilee government has no clue as to the seriousness of the security threat we face. What we need is not more recruitment of police officers but to equip, house and remunerate a small more capable force. This force should be held to the highest ideals as they will have no excuses to make. For as long as police consider their core mandate to be bribe collection we are headed nowhere. Nothing short of disbanding the entire police service will help this country. We are told that more vehicles have been given to the police but these have only made it more comfortable for the police to move around collecting bribes and harassing people going about their normal business. We are told that a lot has been invested in security yet you still see the police have no basic equipment such as bullet proof vests and they still carry guns that could as well be used as herding sticks. The police air wing is still ground and faster response and surveillance is a mirage. The police have no armoured personnel carrier and in places as dangerous as Mandera or Kapedo they will be more keen to save their own lives than those of the mwananchi. It is just natural instinct. As for changes people said Gichangi is the problem he left and we are not better off. In fact it would appear things have escalated with over 60 citizens killed within weeks. We need to know why NSIS is not as effective as it once was. How for instance are people recruited into this service? Has the process been defiled by corruption, cronyism, favouritism and nepotism?The problem is not the individuals in-charge but the system. Even if you have the best and he is presiding over corruptly recruited corruption pursuing officers with a mentality of me first and Kenya last then we can only bank on hope. The 2010 constitution left many security gaps due to oversight by activist experts. It is absurd that people were blaming Lenku for security lapses. These are people who have never read the constitution. Under this constitution Internal Security CS has only policy duties and has no business whatsoever over how the police conduct daily operations. He cant legally command even a police constable. The President too cant command any police officer leave alone the IG to do anything. It is unconstitutional. The president is only commander in chief of the Kenya Defence Forces and not all the Armed Forces as was the case before. This has resulted in a total breakdown of the command structure. It is high time this constitution was amended to strengthen the command structure and ensure speedy changes when necessary. It makes no sense that the president is ultimately blamed for internal security yet he has no legal control over the system. The 2010 constitution brought about the National Police Service Commission headed by Kavuludi. This commission is never heard or seen when we are discussing insecurity. What is their role? Were these not the people who were supposed to professionalise and equip the service to international standards? Kavuludi bears the highest responsibility as Chair of NPSC and must account to the people for his failures. The bungled police recruitment drive clearly shows that NPSC will not save us any time soon. Finally we need to merge the so called Administration Police with the Regular Police. These two conflicting and competing outfits even after being put under single command are doing a lot of harm to the country. Nkaisery can get the job done but he needs the proper legal and financial operational environment to succeed. I can only wish him well.
Posted on: Wed, 03 Dec 2014 08:05:43 +0000
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