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{
    "id": 19546,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/19546/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 242,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Mr. Njuguna",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 20,
        "legal_name": "Peter Njuguna Gitau",
        "slug": "peter-gitau"
    },
    "content": "Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, I thank you for giving me the opportunity to contribute to this very important Bill. Let me start by thanking the Minister for the very able manner in which he has presented this Bill in this House. I am excited because one if the areas which are to be addressed by this Authority is that of a demoralised police service. This Authority will be inspecting the premises where police officers live. You realise that currently, police officers live in very small houses with very big families. This is an area which needs to be addressed immediately, so that we can give moral support to police officers. Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, sharing of houses has been an impediment to better performance by police officers. Sometimes police officers do not even have electricity in their houses yet electricity is a very important commodity whose supply should be constant. At times we have seen police officers’ wives fetching water within the police stations. Again, this demoralizes the force. I think this will be addressed properly by the force. Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, when you look at our police stations the compounds are bare and unfenced. To motivate these police officers, all police institutions must be fenced and gate fixed. They should also be painted. The first and very critical responsibility of this Authority is to make sure that the police force is re- energized and motivated to render efficient service to the citizens. Therefore, we must address all these issues to motivate them. The issue of very low salaries within the force must be addressed. This has been a key element of corruption in the force. At times, the police are forced to man our roads so that they can get bribes to make their ends meet. This is not a good thing to do. I believe with the formation of this Authority these issues will be addressed. We need also to address transport within the force. The Government has been making tremendous effort to improve transport within the police force, but they are still using very old and unreliable vehicles. Again, this Authority will also address that issue. Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, on the appointment of members to the Board, the benchmark is too high. The Act stipulates that 15 years and above, will be the criteria. You realize that there are so many graduates that have come out of our universities. They are now tarmacking. They are jobless in all towns with all that experience. Therefore, it is extremely important that we should open the doors for our graduates by lowering the requirement from 15 years to ten years of experience. That requirement is too high. It will continue to render our graduates jobless if it is not addressed properly. On the membership of this Board, there must be fair representation. All regions must be represented fairly. The face of Kenya must be seen in this Board. On the citizen’s treatment by the police, this has been a feature that needs to be addressed by the incoming Authority. Wananchi have been harassed, insulted and injured. This issue should also be addressed by the incoming administration. Indiscipline by police officers has been almost a permanent feature where the police misuse their firearms. At times, they are accused of hiring out arms to criminals. There is also the perception of criminal element in the force. This will also be addressed completely. This Authority will make sure that we have a professional body that will direct security matters in this country. The new force, with the direction of the Authority, should be friendly, social and very humane in handling the affairs of the citizens. During the last couple of years, the citizens of this country have lost confidence in our police force. I hope with the formation of this Authority, that confidence will be restored. Of great concern have been the deaths in prison cells where prisoners have lost their lives mysteriously. We need the Authority to address this issue comprehensively. Recently, we have seen the disappearance and kidnapping of our people in the country. I hope with this very efficient and professional body some of these problems will be addressed and eradicated completely. I would like the Assistant Minister, Ministry of State for Provincial Administration and Internal Security to note that for the last two weeks Lari Constituency has been affected very badly by the disappearance of people. One of them is a teacher by profession. His name is Mr. Muhia Mwangi and he disappeared in Nakuru while jogging. Up to now, he has not been traced. The family is traumatized. We seem not to know what is happening. I appeal to the Government to do all that it can to trace him. I also wish to address myself to a mama mboga who also disappeared in my constituency last week while returning home. Her name is Ms. Agnes Njeri. With a very well co-ordinated and functional authority those traumatizing events will be addressed. Promotions in the police force have also been a major problem. They have been riddled with nepotism. At times, undeserving persons are promoted. I believe this Authority will comprehensively address these issues and make sure that promotions are on merit only. With those few remarks, I fully support this Bill."
}