Nairobi Metropolitan Command will not usurp police role: Raychelle Omamo

The Defence ministry on Tuesday said the new Nairobi Metropolitan Command will not take up the duties of the police.

Cabinet Secretary Raychelle Omamo said the command will not operate like the police, as that was not its core mandate.

She said there was no need for the military to police civilians.

“We do not want to put a finger on anyone else’s mandate. We are not taking away any duties from anyone. We are not purporting to replicate anyone’s duties,” said Ms Omamo on Tuesday after planting trees at Nairobi’s Moi Forces Academy as part of activities to mark Kenya’s 50th birthday.

“All we want to do is respond to the evolving security environment more effectively. We are not the police. We are a command. Defence is part of national security, but it’s not internal security,” the minister said.

“The police have the power to arrest and execute. Our concerns are issues that affect the territorial integrity of our country,” she added.

EMERGING THREATS

Even though she did not give the details of the mandate of the command, Ms Omamo said it will help the Defence ministry coordinate the discharge of its constitutional mandate.

“We have three mandates — to protect our sovereignty and territorial integrity; assist authorities in circumstances of emergencies and disasters as well as facilitate peace in areas of conflict,” she said.

President Kenyatta created the command on Monday tasked to deal with emerging security threats in the country ranging from terrorism, drug trafficking and proliferation of small arms, among other crimes. (READ: How Kenya took the fight to al-Shabaab)

The KDF is currently divided into two commands — East and West.

On Tuesday, Defence Principal Secretary Monica Juma said: “Nairobi contributes 60 per cent of the country’s GDP. It has a number of important installations that contribute towards this. It is, therefore, important that these installations be protected.”