Alarm as demand for VIP security overwhelms Kenya police service

President Uhuru Kenyatta and his security team. The President’s personal assistants and some relatives also enjoy State security. Officials say the President is not keen to have more security officers at the expense of the public.  [PHOTO: FILE/STANDARD]

By CYRUS OMBATI

KENYA: Police chiefs say the National Police Service (NPS) is overwhelmed by a rising demand for VIP protection that may undermine enforcement of law and order.

It is estimated about 4,000 officers are deployed to guard prominent personalities and their homes.

The figure increased after the number of leaders soared with the devolved system of government.

Complicating the matter are some influential officials, who have demanded as much as five times the number of officers they are entitled to. For instance, Cabinet and Principal Secretaries are officially entitled to at least two armed guards at their homes.  But at least three officials are known to each have 10 armed police officers in chase cars at any given time.  In contrast, majority of Kenyans are at the mercy of criminals.

With about 40,000 police officers watching over a population of some 40 million Kenyans, it means the public - policing ratio is 1:1000.

This is far below the UN recommended police – public ratio of 1:450. Inspector General of Police David Kimaiyo said they were trying to balance between the protection of a rising number of leaders and public demand. “We are working on a policy to guide allocation of security officers to VIPs. The demand is high yet we have few officers,” Kimaiyo told The Standard.

GSU commandant William Saina said because of the high demand for VIP protection, the paramilitary unit will only offer services to the national government.

“Governors and other leaders have been asked to seek security services of regular police, APs and prison officers. We will concentrate on national government,” Saina said.

Police sources say about 2,500 police officers – out of the national tally of 40,000 (some of whom control traffic and keep an eye out for drunk, careless and unlicensed drivers) - guard ministers, MPs, politicians and top Government officials.

Insiders say they are supplemented by about 1,600 officers from the 30,000-member Administration Police Unit.

The General Service Unit’s contribution to VIP protection stands at 600. “Police have a duty to protect all Kenyans and their property,” said Kimaiyo.  Retired President Mwai Kibaki has more than 30 armed officers at his disposal all the time.

Armed officers

Former Prime Minister Raila Odinga and Former Vice-President Kalonzo Musyoka have been allocated 12 security officers to guard them round the clock.

But senior police officers claimed some politicians and businessmen use their influence to secure VIP protection.

“There is nothing you can do sometimes because these people use their connections in Government. They intimidate our bosses to get more security,” said a senior police officer.

Police also guard Government buildings and foreign missions. There is no clear criteria for allocating guards to VIPs, though some argue the move is informed by assessment of individual risk, as security intelligence determines. Three or four, including the driver, who is a police gunman, are  usually avaiable to VIPs in public and social functions, shopping malls, and church.

The rest are shared out evenly among Nairobi and rural homes, spouses and children.

This means about 300 police officers wake up every morning to guard Cabinet ministers, their spouses and homes.

Urban and rural homes

According to official policy, every MP is entitled to an armed guard, while two are assigned to each Cabinet and Principal Secretary.

Cabinet secretaries enjoy the services of additional police guards, who are posted to their urban and rural homes. Some Principal Secretaries and heads of parastatals are also accorded up to three police bodyguards.

GSU personnel are still guarding compounds of former ministers like late George Saitoti and John Michuki, powerful businessmen and even former ambassadors.

A police reforms implementation team that was headed by Kenya Airways CEO Titus Naikuni proposed that officers guarding VIPs be released to undertake core responsibilities to avoid situations where many policemen are underutilised by being deployed to work for a few VIPs at the expense of Kenyans.

The team said there lacks a clear policy on who was entitled to VIP protection.

Private security

It said the level of entitlement had created a situation where a large number of police officers were engaged in “VIP” protection at the expense of core police duties.

The team recommended that public and private institutions, which are currently being guarded by police officers, be provided with adequate notice of withdrawal to enable them make alternative arrangements.

It also advised that the Government consider using private security firms and the National Youth Service for non-core police duties.

Among county leaders, Mombasa Governor Ali Hassan Joho enjoys massive security.

Joho has several armed officers who guard him whenever he is on the move, home or in office. As the head of the country’s second biggest city, Joho is undoubtedly a powerful man with many perceived enemies.

He enjoys the services of a lead car and back up one too. This means he travels with up to ten armed officers whenever he is on the move.

Secretary to the Cabinet Francis Kimemia is also among the most guarded VIPs. He always has a chase car and his property is guarded.