Almost half of respondents hope for better security in new year

By  CYRUS OMBATI

KENYA: Nearly half of Kenyans (49 per cent) have expectations that security will be better in 2014 compared to 2013, a study reveals.

But a third (33 per cent) expects that it will be worse, 14 per cent say the situation will be the same as 2013 while 4 per cent are not sure.

 The study by Ipsos Kenya sampled 1,619 respondents aged 18 and above and living in urban and rural areas.

 The margin of error attributed to sampling and other random effects of this poll’s sample size is +/- 2.41 with a 95 per cent confidence level.

 The survey was conducted in November 2013, with the data being collected through telephone interviews.

The Government has recently announced various measures aimed at boosting security including purchasing of more than 1,200 police vehicles, continuing with the proposed reforms and increasing the perks for the officers.

The recently launched Nyumba Kumi initiative, which is meant to have individuals know their neighbours, is expected to lead to improved security.

Vetting of police officers was among the more than 200 proposals  by a commission set up following the 2007-2008 post-election violence.

Accountable agency

The overall goal of the National Task Force on Police Reforms headed by South African retired judge Philip Ransley was to transform the police service into an efficient, effective, professional and accountable security agency.

The need for police reforms was reinforced by recommendations made by the Waki Commission of Inquiry into the 2007 Post-election Violence. This was after police were largely blamed for the violence that broke out after the disputed polls that claimed more than 1,000 lives.

The commission recommended urgent and comprehensive vetting to be undertaken by a panel of policing experts to ensure that the service had officers with required competence, skills, knowledge and attitudes.

Yesterday, Ipsos Kenya Managing Director Margaret Ireri, who released the findings, said inflation and the high cost of living are making Kenyans downbeat.