Police chiefs back phone tapping

Three candidates for the post of CID chief on Thursday made the case for the tapping of phones to speed up criminal investigations, saying though illegal, it was effective.

Mr Francis Omondi Okonya, Mr Ndegwa Muhoro, and Mr Mathew Kabetu told the National Police Service Commission that some cases, such as abductions, would force the police to monitor communication especially where the kidnappers are demanding ransom.

“After getting the court’s consent, we can build a lot of evidence through tapping,” Mr Okonya, who was the first to appear before the Johnson Kavuludi-led commission, said on Thursday.

Mr Muhoro, the current top detective, and Mr Kabetu, a former Anti-Terrorism Police Unit boss, were also interviewed as the search for the next CID chief came to an end.

Mr Okonya, a deputy commissioner of police, also said that detectives could only be effective in their work if they were in civilian clothes.

“You cannot gather any intelligence in police uniform. I will ensure that they continue operating in civilian clothing as they support their colleagues in uniform,” said Mr Okonya.

Mr Kavuludi had asked whether the putting on police uniform would help restore the CID’s lost glory, while commissioner Mohammed Murshid wanted to know whether the tapping of phones was legal.

Mr Murshid also put Mr Okonya to task to explain why few cases regarding the post-election violence were taken to court. The deputy police chief said they had done their best.

Mr Okonya said if appointed the head of the CID, he would recruit officers based on their competencies and ensure that they only serve for a period of three years.

He said that there was need to increase the number of officers attached to the Banking Fraud Investigations Unit. “Banks are targeting these officers because of their experience and training and this should be stopped,” he said.

Mr Muhoro said he was behind the CID housing, CCTV, and the forensic laboratory projects, which he wanted to see through to the end.

On his part, Mr Kabetu told the commission that he would reduce the number of units within the CID and concentrate on the fraud, narcotics and homicide units.

Mr Kabetu, 62, served the police force for 24 years, 21 of them in the CID. He retired in 2005 to become the manager of the Kenya Airports Authority’s Wilson Airport.