Uhuru pledges armoured personnel carriers for police in fight against terror
An armoured military vehicle patrolling a street in the border town of Moyale. President Uhuru Kenyatta has pledged to provide armoured vehicles to the police. FILE PHOTO | NATION MEDIA GROUP
What you need to know:
- The plan to equip the police with such protective vehicles is a first in the history of the country.
- He said there were plans to provide Mine-Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAPs) vehicles to the police to improve protection for officers deployed in volatile areas.
- President Kenyatta also revealed the government’s plan to modernise the Police Airwing to improve Kenya's air support capacity
President Uhuru Kenyatta has pledged to provide armoured vehicles to the police.
The armoured personnel carriers (APCs), according to President Kenyatta, will help the police to fight terrorism and organised crime without depending on the military.
He was speaking at the Directorate of Criminal Investigation (DCI)'s training school, where he presided over the closing of a meeting between the Inspector-General of Police and all regional and county police commanders.
He said there were also plans to provide Mine-Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAPs) vehicles to the police to improve protection for officers deployed in volatile areas.
The plan to equip the police with such protective vehicles is a first in the history of the country and comes in the wake of an increasing terror threat, where several security officers have lost their lives in the past as they tried to prevent or repulse terror attacks.
KILLED IN AMBUSHES
Several police officers, especially at the northeastern region, have been killed by ambushes by Al-Shabaab militants who use landmines, Improvised Explosive Devices and firearms.
“It is noteworthy that terrorist attacks exposed a number of operational gaps in the ability of our security services to respond effectively.
“Some of these included a glaring lack of proper liaison amongst the various security services which compromised efficiency in the sharing of crucial information,” he said.
He said joint operation centres, with a multi-agency representation, were established to improve information-sharing and coordination among the various actors in the security sector to mitigate the situation.
President Kenyatta also revealed the government’s plan to modernise the Police Airwing to improve Kenya's air support capacity.
“Two MI-17 helicopter troop carriers have been taken in for a complete overhaul, while a new helicopter has been procured, and will be arriving in the country in the next few weeks.
“By June this year, we shall have two new helicopters, and three refurbished units brought back to near-new condition. This will sharply improve our ability to quickly move troops to any trouble spot,” he said.
