MP drafts Bill on police bodyguards

By Cyrus Ombati

An MP has drafted a Bill that will regulate the number of armed security guards to be seconded to various constitutional office holders.

Kilgoris MP Gideon Konchella wants the number of officers seconded to the officials capped at two.

Sections of the law give the Cabinet Secretary Powers to consult with the office holder where circumstances require providing additional security arrangements.

“The Cabinet Secretary shall in making provision for security of a constitutional holder under this Act consult on the nature of security required,” reads part of the Constitutional Office Holders (Security) Bill, 2012.

Those listed in the Bill include chairperson of a commission, member and secretary who should be accorded one armed security officer, speaker of National Assembly, speaker of the Senate and their deputies, who should get two police officers each.

Clerk of the House and Senate should get one armed police officer each while Chief Justice and his or her deputy should be provided with two armed security officers, proposes the Bill. Director of Public Prosecutions and Attorney General too should get two armed security personnel each while judges of a Supreme Court, Controller of Budget and Auditor General should be have one officer each.

Deputy speakers of the House and Senate, their clerks, deputy CJ and a judge of a Superior Court will be provided with one armed officer after ceasing to hold their respective offices if the Bill is passed.

 “The enactment of legislation on this matter is also particularly necessary in view of the fact that security agencies fall under and are answerable to Executive while constitutional offices are independent and are mandated, among other things, to check on the activities of the Executive,” he says.

The team on police reforms headed by Kenya Airways CEO Titus Naikuni proposed that officers should be released to undertake their core responsibilities to avoid situations where many policemen are underutilised by being deployed to work for a few VIPs at the expense of millions of Kenyans. Currently, all MPs and ministers are entitled to at least one police guard and two each at their homes upcountry or in the city.