Uhuru orders KWS, Prisons and NYS be put under IG Kimaiyo

President Uhuru Kenyatta has ordered that all security personnel and equipment of the Kenya Wildlife Service, the Kenya Prisons and the National Youth Service be placed under the command of the Inspector General of Police David Kimaiyo.

In addition, all aircraft owned by different government agencies and parastatals have been placed under the command of Mr Kimaiyo in new measures aimed at curbing rising insecurity, shortening response items and adding up to the numbers available to respond to security situations.

The measures were announced in a statement sent to newsrooms Saturday night, which excluded the Kenya Defence Forces from the new structure under Mr Kimaiyo.

The move effectively brings under Mr Kimaiyo’s command, KWS Director William Kibet Kiprono and Kenya Prisons Commandant Isaiah Osugo, “for the purpose of enhancing the country’s ability to combat insecurity.”

The Executive Order affects the ministries of Environment, Water and Natural Resources, Ministry of Devolution and Planning, and Ministry of Interior.
“The decision is aimed at making co-ordination of provision of security more efficient and becomes effective today,” President Kenyatta said.

The measures are part of President Kenyatta’s move to deal with the insecurity nightmare that has been visited on the country by terrorists. The changes involve personnel and equipment, including aeroplanes.

This is a rare move to rope in KWS and Prisons personnel in police work, which is usually applied only during the General Election.

President Kenyatta has come under increasing pressure from the Opposition Cord, civil society groups and key members of his ruling Jubilee Alliance to change security chiefs and operations in the wake of lapses that have left scores of people dead in recent months.

It is unclear how the new changes will fit into the various laws that govern the work of the police, KWS and the Prisons service.