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{
    "id": 1418942,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1418942/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 249,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Hon. Kithure Kindiki",
    "speaker_title": "The Cabinet Secretary for Interior and National Administration",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 1046,
        "legal_name": "Kithure Kindiki",
        "slug": "kithure-kindiki"
    },
    "content": "leaders of Machakos County and the public, so that that consultation we had is not reduced to just talking. Lastly, I will mention what has been raised by my brother, the Senator for Laikipia County, with whom I have very fond memories of our time together in this House. There was a time when I got into political trouble in this House for no reason and the Senator for Laikipia County was one of the seven gallant Senators who stood with me at a very difficult time and helped me carry the cross because there was nothing wrong I had done. He helped me to bear the pain of what sometimes is bad politics in our country. I am very grateful to Sen. Kinyua and others like Sen. Cherarkey, who has left. Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) is a statutory body established under law. The mandate of IPOA is essentially crucial for the democratization and enhanced transparency and accountability of the security formations. It is in line with our constitutional order that says that national security organs must be subordinate to civilian oversight. This is why even the Commander-in-Chief of the Defence Forces is a civilian. This ensures that all national security organs, the National Police Service, the National Intelligence Service, and the Kenya Defence Forces, are subordinated to civilian authority. Therefore, the role of the IPOA is important in our democracy, as it makes the police accountable. Within the National Police Service, we have an internal affairs unit that looks at maladministration, misuse or abuse of power and excesses. However, IPOA as a separate independent entity is important. However, and this is my last submission, we are engaging with IPOA to sensitize them to the fact that, with due respect to the institution, they concentrate on their mandate. Their mandate is to make sure that police officers since they wield a lot of power because of the weapons and the law behind them in terms of the actions and decisions they can take, they should not misuse those weapons and the power they have to harm the public or to conduct what Sen. Faki was talking about the extrajudicial killings. Nonetheless, any excesses from any institution, including IPOA, are not permitted to interfere with the sacred duty of our national security organs to protect the public and the safety of the people of Kenya. The fight against organized crime, including banditry and terrorism, is a very serious and solemn engagement. It is not a laughing matter. Therefore, I would expect IPOA to rapidly arrest and prosecute a drunk and disorderly officer who goes to a bar and opens fire because he has drunk people's beer and has no money to pay for it. This officer should be arrested. These kinds of officers are a minority in the National Police Service. The majority of our officers, including officers in the frontline, protect the country in very risky environments like the ones Sen. Kinyua is talking about here in the North Rift, North Eastern, and Boni Forest. The officers there are not having a holiday. They are confronted with great risk to their safety. We have directed them to use their weapons to protect themselves and the people of Kenya. Any officer who uses their weapons in accordance with the Constitution and the law of our country to protect themselves from criminals and terrorists or to protect the people of Kenya, will not be prosecuted by anybody. They will not be taken anywhere. We cannot allow our police officers to be brought down by the fire of a criminal. We cannot allow that situation to happen. We The electronic version of the Senate Hansard Report is for information purposesonly. A certified version of this Report can be obtained from the Director, Hansard and AudioServices, Senate."
}