Do not fear anyone, Interior CS Joseph Nkaissery tells police

Joseph Nkaissery

Interior Cabinet Secretary Joseph Nkaissery has told senior officers not to fear institutions like the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (Ipoa).

Mr Nkaissery told the officers he will personally defend police actions which are aimed at ensuring the country’s security and stability.

“Do not fear anyone even if it is Ipoa or any other institution. We shall be there for you all the time. We shall defend you,” he said.

The CS urged both the regular and Administration Police to work as a team. He spoke during a meeting attended by all police regional commanders, CID commanders, Administration Police commanders and officers from police headquarters in Nairobi to discuss their strategy for the year.

Informed sources said the CS assured the officers of the Government’s support as the commanders tabled their concerns.

“Every commander who stood up to talk complained of lack of enough personnel and equipment including vehicles and houses,” said the source.

The officers said though the Government had hired vehicles for their operations, they were not enough to cater for their needs.

The Government leased over 1,400 vehicles for police last year but many police departments including traffic complained that they got only six cars.

Among those present were Benson Kibue (Nairobi), Gideon Amalla (Rift Valley), Peter Mwania (North Eastern), Robert Kitur (Coast), Willy Lugusa (Nyanza), Gerald Mbaabu (Western), David Baya (Eastern) and Larry Kyeng (Central).

After he took office in December, Nkaissery claimed Ipoa and the National Police Service Commission were interfering with police operations.

He also hinted on tabling legislation that may see the two institutions’ mandates drastically reduced.

But leaders at the institutions have said Nkaissery’s plans are bound to fail as the bodies were created by the Constitution to ensure accountability in the service. Nkaissery believes the two institutions impede the National Police Service from efficiently delivering on its mandate.

“We cannot have civilians commanding uniformed people. It cannot happen, it has never happened anywhere in the world,” he said.