Police face accommodation crisis

By Cyrus Ombati

Police are faced with an accommodation crisis ahead of the start of internship programme by some 7,000 recruits.

The recruits are supposed to start their three-month internship programme before the end of February, officials said.

Regular and Administration Police do not have enough housing facilities to accommodate the recruits.

Some provincial commanders have been ordered to purchase tents and unihuts to help mitigate the problem on a temporary basis.

"It is a crisis but we hope to cope with the situation when it comes," said one officer who asked not to be named.

It is not clear if the planned fresh recruitment will take place as earlier announced. Acting Head of Civil Service Francis Kimemia had announced last November that police would recruit 7,000 trainees ahead of the General Election. The first group, which is ready for the internship programme, was recruited in June, last year.

The group which is at the Administration Police Training College, GSU Training College, Embakasi, and Kiganjo Police College, Nyeri, is ready for internship and senior officers have been meeting to plan the exercise.

Meanwhile, plans are underway to refurbish 14 police stations across the country and equip them with modern structures, including proper housing for officers.

Renovation

The police stations earmarked for renovation include Ugunja and Sigomere in Siaya County, and Ndhiwa in Homa Bay.

Modern administration blocks will be put up in three stations in Trans Nzoia County. The Government also wants to construct flats at Kainuk Police Station in Turkana County.

Police Commissioner Mathew Iteere has already put up an advertisement seeking contractors to undertake the work.