Preparations for election security get boost as 2,600 new officers graduate

Kenya’s security preparations for the 2022 General Election received a major boost after 2,610 officers joined the National Police Service yesterday. 

President Uhuru Kenyatta attended the passing out parade of the new recruits at National Police College Campus A in Embakasi. He called on them to fight corruption and safeguard the reputation of the service.

“Your profession demands unconditional commitment to the motto uaminifu na haki [faithfulness and justice]. We call upon you to serve faithfully and with utmost integrity. You will be required to be the hope for those who are hopeless, a shield of justice and enforcers of law without fear or favour,” President Kenyatta said.

With the world having undergone major disruptions in the past two years owing to the Covid-19 pandemic, the President commended the police for enforcing public health measures, which helped in containing the spread of the virus.

“This reminds you of the fluid nature of temporary law enforcement that we have. In view of this evolving nature in our general environment, you officers that are graduating today should expect that, in the course of executing your duties, you must be ready to serve beyond your traditional duty,” he said. President Kenyatta said the training programme had equipped the new officers with skills of handling both traditional and emerging security threats. He urged the recruits to engage in more training and workshops to increase their professionalism and skills.

Widen knowledge

“Training and learning does not end today, you must seek to continuously improve yourself. Widen your knowledge, improve your skills and competencies and challenge yourself to be better today, than you were yesterday,” he said. Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang’i commended the recruits for their diligence.

He also thanked the President for sufficiently funding the security sector, saying, the ministry will ensure the funds are properly utilised to strengthen the sector.

“We will ensure that we move further and further away from those habits of the past where this sector was affected by decisions that were [unprofessional] and not focused on the performance of these men and women here, thereby, affecting the security of our country,” he said.

“The 2,610 officers who pass out today will join the rest of the team that we are working with in preparing for the general elections. We will ensure that our country remains secure because that is our foremost responsibility and duty as government,” he added.

Rigorous training

Inspector-General of Police Hillary Mutyambai said he was confident in the new officers, who “endured nine months of strenuous and rigorous training”.

He added that this will make them “more responsive to the needs of the people”.

“The need to be people’s servants has been emphasised and they have been conditioned to know that service to humanity is their divine call in the National Police Service,” he said.

Deputy Inspector-General of Police Noor Gabow said a majority of the new officers would be deployed to specialised units, including the Rapid Response Unit, the Critical Infrastructure Police Unit, the Anti-Stock Theft Unit and border units.

“They will be joining their colleagues; the Special Operations Group (SOG) and the Special Weapons and Tactics (Swat) unit, who have made a difference in our cities,” he said.

The President also launched an ultra-modern mess at the Police College Campus with a sitting capacity of 12,000 people.

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