New strategy needed in police training

What you need to know:

  • Kapenguria incident points to tensions in law enforcement that will only be healed through long-term, commitment to community policing.
  • There seems to be problems between some station commanders and their juniors as far as allocation of duties is concerned.
  • Policemen deployed in areas prone to terror attacks, cattle rustling and banditry should be well-trained and their welfare taken care of to boost their morale.
  • The security force is not only ill equipped in terms of machinery and technological know –how but also has inadequate personnel.

Last week’s killing of seven police officers in Kapenguria, among them a station commander, by a disgruntled policeman who was also killed after an eight-hour siege, calls for change in the way the officers are trained.

Policing mission needs to be focused on keeping communities safe and free from fear—including fear of officers themselves.

The Kapenguria incident seems to point to tensions in law enforcement that will only be healed through long-term, commitment to community involvement in policing.

There also seems to be problems between some station commanders (OCSs) and their juniors as far as allocation of duties is concerned.

Only last month a junior police officer shot and killed his boss (OCS) in Kigumo, Murang’a County, before fleeing.

 The Muthithi Police Station boss, who was on duty, was reportedly shot five times by his sub-ordinate.

We need to rethink the training strategy among police officers if we are to contain such incidents.

 Policemen deployed in areas prone to terror attacks, cattle rustling and banditry should be well-trained and their welfare taken care of to boost their morale. They should be trained to know that every encounter, every individual is a potential threat.

 They always have to be on their guard because, as cops often say, “complacency kills.”

 However, the move by the National Police Service Commission (NPSC) to introduce new measures aimed at bonding new police recruits for at least 10 years is commendable.

The new rule, which will be applied to 10,000 police officers recently recruited, is aimed at ensuring Kenya draws closer to meeting the international ratio of one officer for every 400 citizens.

Introducing a lock-in clause would help control the number of officers who leave for greener pastures after the government has spent a fortune on their training.

As the country intensifies the fight against insecurity partly caused by infiltration of militia group in the society, it is emerging that some exodus from the police force has resulted in scarcity of personnel to check on the vice.

The security force is not only ill equipped in terms of machinery and technological know –how but also has inadequate personnel.

At least one police officer is responsible for the security of over 100 people. This calls for recruitment of more personnel to change the force.

At the moment, the force recruits individuals with up to degree level qualifications but most of them join the service as a stepping stone to better professional fields.

 In most cases, some of these academicians opt for unpaid study leave while in service and resign after completion of their studies to join other fields, resulting in perennial shortage of security personnel to fight crime.

This, however, does not mean that the graduates or form four leavers are not fit to join the police force.

 The impact of social media in the force is likewise a contributory factor to slow response by the disciplined force in the fight against crime. Some of the officers spend much of their time in social media- Face book, Twitter among others, instead of fighting criminals including militia group.

Although corruption has tainted police recruitment, it is Kenyans’ hope that Inspector-General of Police Joseph Boinett has put in place measures to contain the vice.

 It is possible to prevent and control corruption during recruitment of police officers, if stern action is taken against those responsible.

 The recent vetting exercise of police officers, which has seen many of them sacked over corruption is a clear demonstration that the service is committed to eradication of the vice.

Besides all these factors, there is need for change of strategy in the training of police officers to effectively deal with crime.
 
Kaino works for the Deputy President’s Press Service. Comments expressed here are his own ([email protected]).