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Interior Ministry to improve police cells – CS Nkaissery

The ministry has also managed to improve surveillance in major cities where more CCTV cameras have been installed to address criminal activities/FILE

The ministry has also managed to improve surveillance in major cities where more CCTV cameras have been installed to address criminal activities/FILE

NAIROBI, Kenya, Jun 23 – The Cabinet Secretary for Interior Ministry Joseph Nkaissery on Thursday said that they will look into improving the status of police cells in the country.

Nkaissery said apart from looking at the welfare of the men and women in uniform, there is need to look into the institutions which they work in.

“We’re looking to improving our police cells, some of them are in deplorable conditions,” he said. “We will transform everything and create the best police stations there is in the region.”

The CS who Thursday launched the police reforms program document 2015-2018, said policing in Kenya has greatly improved due to the government’s investment in the police service.

The document is a strategy framework that will provide police direction and guidance in identification, prioritization and implementation of high impact reforms in the National Police Service.

“The document will enhance harmonization and team work among institutions towards common result areas.”

Nkaissery cited improvements in the police ratio to the population which currently stands at 1 to 430 from the previous 1 to 500 which he attributes to accelerated recruitment.

This he said is an achievement, as it is above the United Nation target of 1 to 450.

The ministry has also managed to improve surveillance in major cities where more CCTV cameras have been installed to tackle crime.

“The government has established modern integrated communication and command centres covering Mombasa and Nairobi cities. They are on 24 hour surveillance,” said Nkaissery.

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The number of police vehicles leased to the police service increased to 5,463 between 2013-2016 to boost presence and visibility countrywide.

“The acquisition of specialised vehicles will assist the police fight terrorism and other forms of crime such as cattle rustling,” stated Nkaissery.

The government is also working on bolstering its arsenal for use in terror prone areas.

“In 2013, National Police Service had inadequate body armour; today we are in the process of ensuring that every police officer is equipped.”

The CS noted that the policing in Kenya has made significant strides since the post-election violence that gripped the country after the disputed 2007 poll.

Nkaissery also pointed out that even though there are notable strides made in the service, issues of corruption are still very rampant.

“I would like to point out that only 4 percent of the police are perceived to be corrupt, and by having these reforms in place, the service will be transformed,” he noted.

He also stated that they’re working on removing all rogue and corrupt officers from the service to regain public confidence through the police vetting process set to resume next month.

From these investments and many more, Nkaissery said Kenyans shall in return demand delivery of quality policing services and a lot of effort will be put in the document which is the actual strategy framework.

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“I am planning on having a workshop with the Inspector General of Police Joseph Boinnet and his deputies together with other senior officers so that we learn about what all these police reforms are all about so that we can transform the service to be one of the best in the region,” he stated.

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