Dr Mutua said he had also set aside Sh300 million for construction of police houses in the county. Photo/DR ALFRED MUTUA
NAIROBI, Kenya, Jan 30 – Machakos Governor Alfred Mutua has upped one against his peers by unveiling an elaborate security programme that involves equipping police officers in his county.
Mutua on Thursday launched 120 security patrol cars for all towns in the county and some 40 trained dogs for all the wards. In addition, the county government unveiled 500 CCTV cameras with a central command centre.
While launching the Comprehensive Machakos Security Programme, Mutua said he had also set aside Sh300 million for construction of police houses in the county.
“The Machakos program includes the following 12 initiatives; police presence and response through availability of vehicles – 120 fueled and maintained security vehicles so that each of our 69 locations will have a police car, all our highways will have highway patrol cars and our towns will have enough police coverage. In the next financial year we will double the fleet,” he assured.
He pointed out that this will improve the speed in which cases of security are attended to when need arises.
“My plan is to enable our mothers, sisters and daughters to even work at 3am at night with no fear of attack. Every person should sleep soundly without fear of being invaded by thieves, and businesses should open all night long with no fear of thieves or carjackers. Everyone should enjoy life without the harassment and danger of security,” a passionate Mutua said.
He also announced that a fully equiped forensic centre was going to be opened on March 15 that will enhance the capacity of investigation on crime related deaths.
In a similar programme like that of the national government, the residents were asked to call 999 or 112 state emergency numbers that are normally controlled at the police headquarters.
The call will afterwards be transferred to the County and consequently to the area of concern for action.
Under this security programme also, all tarmacked highways in Machakos are, “getting lights installed using hybrid system of both KPLC electricity and Solar Power.”
In this, 2,000 lights will be installed.
About the forensic laboratory, he said that “it is now operational and features scene of crime teams, special DNA equipment and cutting edge forensics investigation.”
To ensure the entire county was well covered, “we are increasing police posts in the county from 21 to 40 and eventually to 100.”
To supplement the work of the National government, the county will also buy more breatherlisers and police gun detectors.
“Once the security organs are well equipped, then we are able to carry out the other initiatives of community policing, police on the beat and even village household partnerships, much more efficiently.”
To ensure the county continues leading in development, the governor appealed to the county leadership to put aside politics and instead engage in issues of growth.
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