By CYRUS OMBATI

Nairobi, Kenya: A furious President Kenyatta on Thursday told police commanders to arrest and charge those behind recent killings irrespective their status in society.

During a meeting at State House yesterday the Head of State declared that his government would not tolerate incompetence in the force and ordered them to contain the crime wave in the country as quickly as possible.

He appeared to be hinting at persistent claims from residents of Bungoma that the killings and insecurity in the area were linked to recent political events in the country.

“He told police officers to work within the law and take action against any suspect irrespective of his or her status to bring to an end the crimes” said a police officer who attended the meeting but who did not wish to be on record discussing high-level talks.

Gangs armed with guns, machetes and other deadly crude weapons have continued terrorising villagers in Bungoma, Busia and Mandera.

Villagers in Bungoma have now organised vigilante groups to defend themselves against the gangs leading to the lynching of eight suspects in a week (see story on Page 7).

Yesterday, the President said he was concerned about the spate of killings in many parts of the country and sought to know what challenges the commanders had in containing the crimes.

He is said to have wondered why some of the elite units like Flying Squad, Special Crimes Prevention Unit, Anti-Narcotics Unit and Criminal Investigations Department were not active as they were in the past.

Officials said the President seemed agitated that the police force was unable to contain the maiming and killings taking place in the country.

“He talked well but he seemed to be unhappy with the situation. He told us he will support us in every manner possible to contain the situation,” said the source.

The President met all Provincial Police Officers (PPOs), Provincial Criminal Investigations Officers (PCIOs) and formation commanders from the regular and administrative police units.

Also present at the meeting was the Inspector General of Police David Kimaiyo.

Sources said the police commanders complained to the President they lacked tools and equipment and have low morale to address some of the crimes that have been reported.

Others alluded to communication between them and the National Intelligence Service.

“There seems to be a problem between us and the NIS in terms of sharing of information and that is exactly what we told him,” said another officer.

Internal Security Permanent Secretary Mutea Iringo, who attended the meeting, said it was meant to appraise the President on the police performance and the challenges they have.

“The President assured us of his support with regard to equipment, which is the main challenge to us,” said Iringo.

The police offers admitted to the President that they were challenges in handling the Bungoma and Busia attacks.

Others are said to have complained their morale was low because their employer, National Police Service Commission, plans to remove them on account of academic qualifications.

The senior police officers claimed there were no structures to ensure smooth implementation of the proposed changes.

They also asked the President to suspend the on-going reforms including recruitment of county commanders to allow a smooth transition

Kenyatta told the officers he will seek audience with the commission to address their complaints but added that he did not entertain excuses from police officers in dispensing of their mandate.

Yesterday was the first time that the officers were meeting with the President following a spate of killings in Nairobi, Western, North Eastern and Coast.

The officers later retreated to a closed-door meeting at CID Pavillion where they were to discuss the President’s address.

Dozens of people have been killed and others wounded in criminal attacks in the country in the past month or so.

At least 20 people have been killed in these areas in the past month alone and thousands others displaced in attacks. The latest occurred in Nairobi where two public servants, one working with the Transitional Authority and the other in Deputy President’s office and a police officer were killed on a single day.

Cases of carjacking are also on the rise. On Tuesday, Kenyatta directed that Sh4 billion be set aside annually starting this financial year for the purchase of equipment to boost security in the country.

President Kenyatta has further ordered the formation of a special team comprising officials from Treasury, Police and the Office of the President to identify the equipment required and to manage the police procurement.

He said modalities are being worked out to increase the number of police officers in the country. Earlier on Monday, Deputy President William Ruto indicated 10,000 would be recruited to police colleges next time round.

Kimaiyo last month said the department needed at least Sh150 billion to meet the proposed police reforms and ensure their operations are smooth.