Police set to buy four new Sh3bn choppers
What you need to know:
- He explained that the new helicopters will not be combat-designed as the law did not allow acquisition of armoured planes by police.
- He further said that though the General Service Unit will use the helicopters when the need arises, none of the four new choppers would specifically be assigned to the Recce Squad.
The Kenya Police Service is procuring four new twin turbine engine helicopters worth Sh2.7 billion designed to suit the travel needs of police commandoes amid a row over the tender document.
The eight- to 14-seater utility helicopters are to be used to enhance security surveillance currently affected due to the grounding of nearly all the police airwing fleet.
However, the tender specifications have raised eyebrows as some of the mandatory features of the design being procured appear to be replicating a patented model by an American helicopter manufacturer.
Police Airwing Commandant Rodgers Mbithi, whose department will use the utility and troop career helicopters, however, said the tender document is fairly prepared and allows competitiveness from various manufacturers.
NO CHOPPER FOR RECCE
“We know there are some brokers out there who thought they will get a chance to handle this matter. We are going to be thorough this time and we insist on manufacturers only,” said Mr Mbithi.
He further said that though the General Service Unit will use the helicopters when the need arises, none of the four new choppers would specifically be assigned to the Recce Squad.
He explained that the new helicopters will not be combat-designed as the law did not allow acquisition of armoured planes by police.
But an aviation expert in the police force claimed the tender document would make suppliers depend on firms from America, minimising the opportunity of benefiting from a wide range of expertise.
