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Kaguthi to spearhead Nyumba Kumi initiative

Joseph Kaguthi has been picked to spearhead the Nyumba Kumi intiative. Photo/ MIKE KARIUKI

Joseph Kaguthi has been picked to spearhead the Nyumba Kumi intiative. Photo/ MIKE KARIUKI

NAIROBI Kenya, Oct 25- The government has formed a committee to oversee the implementation of the Nyumba Kumi initiative which is aimed at restoring security in the country.

Interior Cabinet Secretary Joseph ole Lenku says the government is keen to make the concept a key pillar of the policing strategy as directed by President Uhuru Kenyatta.

“Community policing is anchored in Article 244 (e) of our constitution which requires the National Police Service to promote relationship with broader society,” he said.

The committee unveiled on Friday will be chaired by former Provincial Commissioner Joseph Kaguthi with members drawn from both private and public sector.

They include Kenya Airways Chief Executive Officer Titus Naikuni, security expert Simiyu Werunga and Dr Francis Sang who formerly headed the small arms secretariat among others.

Already, the government has issued an order requiring both Regional Coordinators and County Commissioners to enforce community policing in a bid to curb increasing rates of insecurity in the country.

“The government has directed that the concept of ‘Nyumba Kumi’ be integrated into community policing to ensure that the current system of villages under an elder are restructured into 10 household units similar to a concept in other jurisdictions like Tanzania,” Lenku had said while launching the programme on October 7.

A new legal framework has been established through the National Security Council Regulations that will see county security committees formed under the national committee.

Lenku said the objective of these security structures was to strengthen community police partnership to promote trust and confidence between the police and the community, “and to improve information sharing.”

Addressing the country during Mashujaa day celebrations, President Uhuru Kenyatta said the programme will help curb cases of insecurity.

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“We want to be a country at peace with itself, and with its Neighbours. From time to time, therefore, we may be required to intervene externally to keep our country, and our Neighbours safe. We have not been found wanting in that regard and we stand ready to act whenever required,” he stated.

He said that the government is investing in equipping the security forces to have sufficient capacity to deter and contain all forms of violence and criminality.

He however noted that, “The first rule of security is vigilance: we must know everything and everyone around us. It will be a great betrayal for anyone of us to pretend oblivion while next door, someone is assembling bombs, hoarding illegal weapons, or detaining a kidnapped child.”

“We support the community policing as an effective strategy in the fight against crime and has put in place measures required; this will enhance partnership between the police and community,” Interior Cabinet Secretary had said during the launch of the programme.

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