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"id": 214787,
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"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "Mr. Wambora",
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"id": 285,
"legal_name": "Martin Nyaga Wambora",
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"content": "Thank you, Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, for giving me this opportunity to contribute to this critical Vote of a Ministry that deals with very sensitive issues concerning security, which are prerequisite to development. It is also a Ministry which spends a lot of resources and, rightly so, because it is big. I have noticed some progress, and I want to commend the Minister and his staff for a job well done. The performance, evaluation, transparency and accountability, and the Rapid Results Initiative (RRI) approach, the Government has shown that we July 11, 2007 PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES 2457 can do very well. For the first time Kenya Civil Service won a UN Award. This shows that we can beat a developed country like Singapore. That is a good sign. Two, I wish to commend the Ministry and the Minister for the completion of previously abandoned projects like the Nairobi West Park Housing Project near the Carnivore and police stations, among other projects. I would also like to commend the Minister for buying new vehicles and training personnel in Provincial Administration and in the police department. That is commendable. Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, having said that, I think there are challenges facing the Ministry. There are many challenges which we must take this opportunity to focus on so that they can be tackled. One of the major challenges is the modernisation and the rehabilitation of security facilities. A good example is the Runyenjes Police Station which is being modernised. A modern police station is being built there, and I understand that there are already a few more in the country. We are, really, very proud of that project. What is remaining now is for us to come up with Phase II and put up police lines so that the police officers at the Runyenjes Police Station can also live like the other officers that mhe. Kiunjuri was talking about; who are living in comfortable houses, so that they are able to perform their duties comfortably. The first phase has been very successful and we are only asking for a second phase, which will now incorporate police lines. Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, the second major challenge for the Ministry is the police/population ratio, which is terrible! It is terrible because we are very far from the United Nations (UN) recommended police/population ratio. But I think the Ministry is now beginning to recruit more and more police officers, which will now bring the ratio closer to the ratio recommended by the UN. Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, I am also seeing a challenge in the number of police officers. We need to recruit more police officers so that they can man various parts of the country, in order to reduce the insecurity which we are now facing. This challenge of the police/population ratio can also be solved in the short term by recruiting vetted police reservists, who can help a lot in that field. I can also see another solution of dealing with insecurity in the country by arming vetted and disciplined civilians. That has been done in South Africa and Uganda, where there used to be a lot of insecurity. Recently, when I was in Kampala, I was able to see people moving about even at night in the city, without fear of insecurity. Any crook who tries to do any nonsense in the city is quickly ambushed by civilians who are guarding the shops. It has worked! If we do not have enough policemen, we can arm some vetted people from security firms. I am sure that they will work well. Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, I would also wish to recommend that the police force or security forces be very ruthless to armed criminals. They should have no mercy on armed people who are not authorised to carry arms. They are very, very dangerous, indeed. I am really shocked to hear some of my colleagues trying to press the Minister for taking a hard stand. Bw. Minister, continue taking a hard stand and eliminate the thugs in the country. You do not have to resign. Continue and be very, very tough! That is what has brought security in a country like Uganda. They were ruthless! They were not taking armed criminals to court. They were shooting them dead! That is what should happen in this country. Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, I am also shocked to hear some of my colleagues condemning road-blocks. I normally drive from Runyenjes to Nairobi at night. For the first time, I do not worry about driving at night because there are several road-blocks. My colleagues and family used to worry after seeing so many road-blocks. But I told them that it is better to have many road-blocks and travel safely. Let us have road-blocks because they have brought security on the Embu-Nairobi Road. Those others who want their road-blocks removed, shauri yao ! But for 2458 PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES July 11, 2007 me, I recommend those road-blocks because I am able to travel between Nairobi and my constituency, even at midnight. Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, there is a need to supplement the Constituencies Development Fund (CDF). I am talking from experience because, personally, I have put up five police posts with CDF funds. I have spent several millions. One or two have now been manned by Administration Police. But three are still not manned. Now that I have spent public funds through CDF, I would like to ask the Ministry to provide personnel to man those facilities. That will enhance security in the rural areas. Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, I want to give others a chance. So, with those few remarks, I beg to support."
}