7,000 police officers to be hired ahead of polls

Some 7,000 police officers will be recruited this year to ensure adequate security ahead of the General Election.

Acting Civil Service boss Francis Kimemia said the recruits would be trained soon after those currently undergoing training proceed for internship.

“With an additional 14,000 police officers, the government will be able to beef up security in the country ahead of the General Election,” said Mr Kimemia.

Speaking during the burial of his mother-in-law Damaris Muthoni Muciri at Ngenge village in Embu County on Tuesday, Mr Kimemia reaffirmed the Internal Security ministry’s commitment to ensure more police officers were deployed at the grassroots level.

He called for public involvement in efforts to build more police stations and posts across the country.

Mr Kimemia at the same time asked politicians to stop early campaigns as there were many development projects that required their attention.

“Just like the way we signed performance contracts yesterday (Monday), governors will be required to do so. Some think they will go to loot the money to recover what they spent on campaigns,” he said and warned that such behaviour would not be tolerated.