Kenya hires PR firm to spruce image of police

By Cyrus Ombati

The Government has hired a public relations company, Gina Din Corporation, to develop and implement a communication strategy to spruce up the image of the police.

Internal Security Minister George Saitoti said the company will be paid Sh6.42 million yearly for the work.

Saitoti said the PR company would, among other issues, communicate with the public the progress on the ongoing reforms and mobilise community participation in police reforms.

The hiring of the company is one of the efforts to ensure the proposed police reforms work out, added Saitoti.

The minister spoke at a Nairobi hotel while briefing donors on the progress of police reforms.

He said it would need Sh81.4 billion to implement the proposed reforms.

“Whereas the Government shoulders this huge responsibility, we would like to invite development partners and friends to work with us particularly in implementation of software programmes in curriculum development and strengthening internal accountability mechanisms,” he said.

Saitoti said the Government also needs support in implementing community policing programme, training, and capacity building, operationalisation of the independent policing oversight authority, operations of Police Service Commission, and monitoring and evaluation of reforms.

He said crime trends and public perception surveys to monitor police performance, procurement of modern communication equipment, and procurement of vehicles also need the support of donors.

The minister said they have so far made some progress in various areas in implementing the proposals citing internal accountability mechanisms, reviewing of the salaries, housing, and procurement of vehicles.

He added the Police Reforms Implementation Committee mandated to spearhead the reforms has so far made much progress saying it has drafted five major bills that are ready for tabling before the House.

The Bills include National Police Service Bill 2010, National Police Service Commission Bill 2010, Independent Policing Oversight Authority Bill 2010, Private Security Industry Regulation Bill 2010, and National Coroners Bill 2010.