Lenku tells APs to obey chiefs’ order

By CYRUS OMBATI

Cabinet Secretary for Interior and Co-ordination of National Government Joseph ole Lenku has ordered Administration Police (AP) officers to take orders from county commissioners and chiefs.

Lenku warned that any officer who fails to do so would be sacked.

The minister made the remarks in a closed-door meeting with all security chiefs at the Kenya School of Government on Monday.

He said the APs must take orders on issues of security from county commissioners, sub-county commissioners, assistant county commissioners, chiefs and assistant chiefs.

Civic authority

“I direct that the Administration Police, with regard to work, will be taking orders directly from the county commissioners. Any individuals who do not comply with that will not be part of the security. Civic authority over security must be maintained. We have had a situation where  county commissioners do not see eye to eye with county commanders,” said Lenku.

The directive has caused uproar within the Administration Police, which had been detached from provincial administration.

Administration Police officers have since contacted the Commission for the Implementation of the Constitution (CIC) to interpret the directive and give advice.

One command

Lenku also revealed that both the Kenya Police Service and AP will operate as one command after a vetting process.

The meeting was attended by commanders from Kenya Police, Administration Police, National Intelligence Service, Immigration Department, Kenya Wildlife Service, Prisons and Provincial Administration.

Lenku said the AP unit was established to support the administration and this must be implemented and respected. He said the Constitution provides that there must be civilian authority over police.

The APs have been refusing to take orders from the chiefs and county commissioners, saying they are answerable only to the Inspector General of Police according to law.

The Government plans to introduce laws that will ensure cohesion among security agencies, county and national governments.