Governors in push for establishment of county police force
President Uhuru Kenyatta with Council of Governors Chairman Isaac Rutto (right) and Vice Chairman Salim Mvurya (left). Governors and senators locked horns Wednesday over powers to summon the county bosses for questioning on the use of devolved funds. PHOTO | SAMUEL MIRING'U | NATION MEDIA GROUP
What you need to know:
- They also expressed concerns about the growing public debt, warning that it could affect their operations.
- The leaders said parts of the country were being hit hard by insecurity because they had been sidelined by the national government.
- The Head of State is said to have emphasised that the national and county governments should work together to end insecurity.
- Council of Governors Chairman Isaac Ruto declined to confirm the issues discussed at the meeting.
Governors have petitioned President Uhuru Kenyatta to allow them to establish a police force in each county to help fight insecurity.
They also expressed concerns about the growing public debt, warning that it could affect their operations, according to sources familiar with discussions at a national and county governments summit held at State House on Monday.
The leaders said parts of the country were being hit hard by insecurity because they had been sidelined by the national government.
This, they argued, went against the Constitution, which provides for the inclusion of governors in county security teams and the formation of a police force at the level of a devolved unit.
They told the President that having a county police force, with the governor playing a leading role in security teams, would help curb insecurity, which has been rampant in Mandera, Turkana, Baringo, Lamu and Samburu counties.
The county bosses complained that insecurity was hurting tourism, especially at the Coast.
POROUS BORDERS
They said errant traders were taking advantage of porous borders to bring in cheap sugar from neighbouring countries.
Some of the sugar bags, they added, are stuffed with small arms, which contribute to runaway banditry.
The sources said President Kenyatta, who dropped Interior Cabinet Secretary Joseph ole Lenku and has nominated Kajiado Central MP Joseph Nkaissery to replace him, promised to give them a response once he consults the country’s top security organs.
Inspector-General of Police David Kimaiyo has resigned from his position. However, he is understood to have said that the national government cannot cede to counties its function of keeping law and order within the country and securing its borders.
WORK TOGETHER
Mr Kenyatta is said to have emphasised that the national and county governments should work together to end insecurity.
Currently, police officers in all the counties fall under the national government and district security teams, chaired by county commissioners.
On Tuesday, Council of Governors Chairman Isaac Ruto declined to confirm the issues discussed at the meeting.
“These are matters that were discussed at State House and I think they should remain with those who were present.
"What you had to know was communicated to you by the President’s press team,” he said by phone.
The governors also used the meeting to raise a red flag over the rising national debt, whose ceiling was increased to Sh2.5 trillion from Sh1.2 billion last week by Parliament.
