MPs pressure President Uhuru Kenyatta on security

President Uhuru Kenyatta addresses a congregation at Ruiru Municipal stadium in Kiambu on September 8, 2013. MPs have asked President Kenyatta to crack the whip on run-away insecurity in most parts of the country. PHOTO/ ANNE KAMONI

What you need to know:

  • Speaking in the presence of Cabinet Secretary for Interior and Coordination of National Government Joseph ole Lenku and National Intelligence Service Director-General Michael Gichangi, the legislators asked for urgent action to deal with insecurity.
  • The President, while responding to concerns by North Horr MP Chanyu Ganya, asked leaders from areas hit by ethnic conflicts such as Marsabit County to include all communities in the region’s leadership.

MPs have asked President Kenyatta to crack the whip on run-away insecurity in most parts of the country.

They singled out inefficiency, corruption and laxity within the police force as the major causes of insecurity, whose levels, they said, had reached worrying levels.

Speaking in the presence of Cabinet Secretary for Interior and Coordination of National Government Joseph ole Lenku and National Intelligence Service Director-General Michael Gichangi, the legislators asked for urgent action to deal with insecurity.

Mr Lenku announced that county police commanders, whose appointments sparked controversy, would be vetted soon. He said the urgency to deal with security issues forced the government to deploy them to counties without vetting.

While making his remarks, President Kenyatta accepted a proposal by Kajiado Central MP Joseph ole Nkaissery for the Head of State to have a sitting with a smaller group of MPs to discuss the state of security and what needed to be done.

Responding to presentations by Mr Lenku and Mr Gichangi, Mr Nkaissery expressed disappointment that they did not explain to MPs the steps they had taken to deal with insecurity.

The President, while responding to concerns by North Horr MP Chanyu Ganya, asked leaders from areas hit by ethnic conflicts such as Marsabit County to include all communities in the region’s leadership.

The President spoke during the closing of a three-day induction workshop of MPs at the Leisure Lodge Resort in Kwale County yesterday. He later interacted with MPs and had lunch with them at the resort.

The insecurity debate was sparked off by the chairman of the House committee on Security, Mr Asman Kamama, who described insecurity as a major challenge to the country.

Mr Kamama also singled out the traffic police department, which he described as a den of corruption.

“If it cannot be reformed, disband it. We will support your minister to reform or disband the traffic police department,” the Tiaty MP said.