Four counties set to hire youth in the war on crime

Suspected house buglers boarding a police vehicle after they were arrested. Kakamega, Vihiga, Homa Bay and Kisumu are finalising legislation to enable them to employ youth to serve in the security units. PHOTO | SULEIMAN MBATIAH | NATION

By  Silas Apollo

What you need to know:

  • The recruits will work alongside the regular police.
  • The laws being worked on will allow the formation of security committees at all levels of the county.
  • The counties also want the national government to increase police posts.
  • Mr Ooro, from Homa Bay, said the county governments were better-placed to help in the fight crime and terrorism.

Four county assemblies in western Kenya are working on laws to allow them to form county policing units.

Kakamega, Vihiga, Homa Bay and Kisumu are finalising the legislation to enable them to employ youth to serve in the security units.

The recruits will work in fighting insecurity alongside regular police officers that are under the national government.

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Chapter 14 of the Constitution stipulates that the Kenya Defence Forces, the National Intelligence Service and the National Police Service are the preserve of the national government.

The laws being considered would allow the formation of security committees at all levels of the county as well as the purchase of vehicles by governors to boost the force.

Majority leaders Andrew Ahuga (Vihiga), Robert Makhanu (Kakamega), Michael Ooro (Homa Bay) and Samuel Ong’ow (Kisumu) on Tuesday said insecurity was making life difficult for the residents, hence the need to form the units.

Mr Ahuga said his county was currently debating a Community Policing Bill that seeks to give the Vihiga County the powers to hire youth and train them on how to provide security in villages.

INCREASE POLICE POSTS

He said they were also engaged in talks with the national government to increase the number of police posts in the devolved unit.

“We already have a committee that is responsible for shortlisting and training the young people on the security role,” added Mr Ahuga.

His Kakamega counterpart, Mr Makhanu, said he was working on a similar Bill to be presented before the assembly for debate and adoption.

Mr Makhanu said his county wanted to form security committees at all county levels and strengthen the Nyumba Kumi initiative included in the draft law.

“Kakamega has a total of 87 members of the county assembly, whose security, as well as that of the public, is paramount,” he said.

Kisumu’s Mr Ong’ow said there was growing concern over the vulnerability of the assembly premises to insecurity.

He said the screening of visitors was a challenge given the few guards available.

“The Committee on Delegated County Legislation has already presented to us a report we believe will go a long way in guiding us on the way forward,” he said.

Mr Ooro, from Homa Bay, said the county governments were better placed to help in the fight crime and terrorism.

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