Governors seek meeting with Uhuru over insecurity

The Council of Governors Chairman Isaac Ruto addresses the media outside County Hall on March 20, 2014. The Council of Governors has asked President Uhuru Kenyatta to convene a special summit to discuss the state of security in the country. PHOTO/JEFF ANGOTE

What you need to know:

  • Mr Ruto stated that security is a bi-partisan issue that requires all arms of the government and the political class to collaborate and make the country secure.
  • The council recommended that county governments be included in the implementation of nyumba kumi (community policing) initiative to ensure its success.

The Council of Governors has asked President Uhuru Kenyatta to convene a special summit to discuss the state of security in the country.

Speaking at a press conference on Wednesday, chairman Isaac Ruto said insecurity and the heightened political tension is affecting the economic growth in the counties as witnessed in the tourism sector.

“The special summit will be aimed at discussing the security that is adversely affecting the livelihoods of Kenyans and threatening the stability of the nation and devolution,” he added.

Mr Ruto further urged the national government to move with urgency and gazette the County Policing Authority Regulations.

“This will ensure the County Policing Authority and the County Security Committees have a framework of engagement to strengthen security structures,” he added.

The council noted that there was need for both levels of government to work together in order to ensure peace and security in the country.

“In the case of Mpeketoni, the attackers fled into the forest, this shows they knew the area well and maybe could be well known to locals, if the two levels of government collaborate it would make apprehension much faster,” said the chairman.

Mr Ruto stated that security is a bi-partisan issue that requires all arms of the government and the political class to collaborate and make the country secure.

“This is not a time to point fingers but a time to look inward and see what we can together do to allay the pain of these people who have been affected by this heinous act,” he added.

The council recommended that county governments be included in the implementation of nyumba kumi (community policing) initiative to ensure its success.

Mr Ruto was flanked by the Kwale Governor Salim Mvurya, who is the vice-chairman of the council and Nairobi Governor Evans Kidero.