Governors to chair new security organs

Governors and security chiefs will share intelligence reports after the publication of new rules, Interior Cabinet Secretary Joseph ole Lenku has said.

The regulations will lead to the creation of the County Policing Authority (CPA) to be chaired by governors or their representatives.

In addition, a special police unit will be established and deployed in the counties, Mr Lenku told the county bosses in Naivasha on Friday.

“This will be done in consultation with the county governments.”

He assured the county bosses that the National Government would gazette the regulations with speed.

The CPA will work with county security committees, which are chaired by county commissioners.

“With this policing authority, the public will get an opportunity to say how they want to be policed.” The people would be able to hold police accountable through the authority, he added.

The governors had accused the National Government of failing to involve them in security matters, which they claimed had led to escalating crime and terror attacks.

County security committees, they said, did not share important information on crime with them making it difficult for them to assist the National Government in tackling insecurity.

“Some of these security officials in the Provincial Administration are still living in the past,” said Bungoma Governor Kenneth Lusaka. “They are not compliant with the new Constitution.”

Mr Lusaka, a former District Commissioner, said the Constitution allowed governors to receive regular security briefing from the county security chiefs.

“But what we have been getting is piecemeal information and it is given to us like it’s a favour,” he said as most of his colleagues supported him.

The county leaders asked Interior PS Mutea Iringo to prepare a circular directing county security chiefs to share intelligence reports with them.

However, Mr Lenku said with the CPA in place, there would be a framework that would enable both levels of government to manage security and peace.

“There should be frequent consultation between the national and county governments for security matters,” he said.

Bomet Governor Isaac Ruto said the arrangement would end mistrust between the public and police.

The meeting brought together all regional government bosses to discuss ways of cooperating with the National Government to address insecurity.

Terrorists have struck at different places, killing scores and leaving others severely injured. The attacks have become a threat to the economy.

Mr Lenku said security could not be left to the government alone.