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"id": 214997,
"url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/214997/?format=api",
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"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "Mr. Michuki",
"speaker_title": "The Minister of State for Administration and National Security",
"speaker": {
"id": 183,
"legal_name": "John Njoroge Michuki",
"slug": "john-michuki"
},
"content": "(V) We have implemented new schemes of service for chiefs and assistant chiefs, among many other initiatives, and also a more clearer scheme of service for district officers, district commissioners and provincial commissioners. Mr. Speaker, Sir, during the 2006/2007 Financial Year, my Ministry, in collaboration with the Government, Justice, Law and Order Sector (GJLOS) development partners, continued with the re-training and equipping of the Provincial Administration and police officers in a bid to make them more responsive and effective in service delivery. In particular, 3,000 chiefs and assistant chiefs underwent change, security and management courses at the Administration Police Training College (APTC) to provide them with skills for managing security matters in their areas, while 1,524 chiefs undertook paralegal training. In addition, 93 district Commissioners and 424 district officers were trained in leadership and best management practices. We have also started a final scheme providing chiefs with motorcycles to enhance their effectiveness in service delivery. More than 5,000 police officers have also undergone various training programmes that include culture and attitude change, skills upgrading, management and specialised crime investigation. As hon. Members will testify, service delivery to the public has significantly improved. This position has been recognised by the international community, resulting in our country being awarded the United Nations Public Service Award for Re-inventing the Government. This House ought to congratulate us! This is a very prestigious award, and Kenya was ranked first in this category. Mr. Speaker, Sir, while crime has generally declined throughout the country, there has emerged a big challenge to peace and tranquillity in certain regions of the country, especially in informal settlements in Nairobi and other urban areas, because of the activities of organised criminal gangs. The activities of those gangs have led to fear, destruction of property and loss of lives of both the civilian population and security agents. However, I want to assure hon. Members that the Government will not relent in its crackdown on those gangs. Adequate machinery has been put in place to handle them. These measures include provision of patrol vehicles to security agents, purchase of modern equipment such as guns detectors and bullet-proof vests, recruitment of more police officers and improvement of housing for the officers to boost their morale. They also include initiation of public awareness campaigns on crime detection and sting operations targeted at specific crime areas. In addition, the Government has involved other partners through community policing and other peace-building initiatives that bring citizens, non-Governmental organisations (NGOs), development partners and the Government together. The establishment of the National Steering Committee on Peace Building and Conflict Management has facilitated co-ordination of shareholders in this regard. Mr. Speaker, Sir, the Government has also formed a National Focal Point on all small arms and light weapons to monitor and address the problem of proliferation of small arms and light weapons. So far, the unit has managed to destroy 20,126 illicit weapons, collected and or surrendered between the year 2003 and 2007. Cross-border crime continues to pose a major challenge to our country's security. The volatile situation in Somalia demands continuous presence of our security forces along the long and July 10, 2007 PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES 2359 porous border. This requires substantial resources which, conversely, has adversely affected security operations in other parts of the country. Mr. Speaker, Sir, as I mentioned in my speech last year, security is the responsibility of every citizen. Situations of insecurity are bred by different socio-economic dynamics and cannot, therefore, be blamed entirely on the Government. It is, indeed, the duty of every citizen, including hon. Members, to ensure that they do not create, or embrace, conditions that encourage crime. In addition, we must all address the causes of crime, for that is where the solution to insecurity lies. Above all, we must appreciate that, as individuals, we are responsible for our personal security and must, therefore, be ready to co-operate with security agencies to create a safer and secure Kenya. My Ministry will, during the financial year, continue with the modernisation programmes that were started during the last financial year. In particular, the rehabilitation of the police helicopters at a cost of Kshs1 billion will be finalised this financial year. I hope Mr. J. Nyagah will note the figure. As hon. Members will recall, Kshs400 million was provided during the last financial year, while the balance of Kshs600 million is factored into the current Budget. In addition, Kshs330 million has been provided to the Police Airwing for the purchase of fixed-wing aircraft to bolster, and eventually replace, the ageing fleet. Mr. Speaker, Sir, my Ministry has procured modern calibration equipment for the Motor Vehicles Inspection Unit, which, as you may recall, was recently brought to my Ministry, to replace those outdated equipment which were acquired in the 1960s. This new equipment will be installed and operationalised in the current financial year. As I informed hon. Members last year, the police telecommunications network is based on the old analogue technology, and there is urgent need to modernise it. During the last financial year, we started upgrading the Presidential Escort Communications System, which we expect to complete this year with an allocation of Kshs100 million that had been provided. Turning now to transport, during the Financial Year 2006/2007, my Ministry was allocated Kshs381 million for the purchase of motor vehicles for both the security agencies and the Provincial Administration. With this allocation, the Ministry was able to procure 155 assorted vehicles and 21 motorbikes. This year, an allocation of Kshs767 million has been provided for the purchase of assorted vehicles, which will be distributed to areas which did not benefit from last year's purchase, including the new districts. I wish to reiterate that the amount allocated for the purchase of vehicles for security agencies is not enough. I would like to repeat that. The amount allocated for the purchase of vehicles for security agencies is not enough because the police service alone requires over 3,000 vehicles. If we have to police this country adequately, we require 3,000 vehicles for the police alone. Turning now to housing, this continues to be a major challenge that impacts negatively on the performance of our security agencies. In the 2006/2007 Financial Year, an allocation of Kshs1,832,000,000 was provided to both the Kenya Police and Administration Police Services for the purchase, construction and refurbishment of houses for the police. With those funds, we were able to do the following: One, we purchased the former Kenya College of Communications Technology at Loresho Campus for the training of senior police officers at a cost of Kshs113 million. Two, we started construction of nine residential housing projects for the police and two for the Administration Police in Nairobi. Three, we leased housing units for 100 officers in Nairobi. Four, we renovated about 60 police stations and police lines and 79 Administration Police lines. Five, we constructed six barracks and lecture rooms at the Administration Police Training College and purchased 14 housing units for the Administration Police. Mr. Speaker, Sir, during the current financial year, my Ministry has been allocated Kshs1.9 billion for the construction of houses for security agencies while an additional Kshs281 million has been provided for the ongoing renovation of existing houses. In spite of these efforts, majority of 2360 PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES July 10, 2007 our police officers continue to live in dilapidated housing units. Therefore, there is need to substantially increase the budgetary provision in the coming financial year in order to make any marked impact. Mr. Speaker, Sir, drug trafficking and substance abuse is a matter of national concern, particularly because it is a major cause of insecurity and also contributes to the rapid spread of the HIV/AIDS. Other effects which can directly be attributed to the menace include the escalation of violent crime, broken families and increased drug dependency by our youth. The National Agency for the Campaign Against Drug Abuse (NACADA) has undertaken a comprehensive review of the national drug control strategy in the country to come up with policies and priorities of drug control efforts over the next five years. NACADA has been allocated Kshs60.3 million in the current financial year, which will basically support public awareness and preventive education. The funding of NACADA needs to be revisited. Its capacity and that of other institutions fighting drug abuse need to be enhanced. There is, therefore, an urgent need to create a strong national secretariat to facilitate the establishment of provincial and district level offices, enhance the rehabilitation services and domesticate various international instruments on drugs and substance abuse reduction. Mr. Speaker, Sir, last year, my Ministry was allocated Kshs225 million for technological upgrade of the Printing Press in order to bring the Government Press at par with modern printers in the market. With the allocated funds, the Government Printer was able to procure full colour pre- press photo composition machines, high resolution printers and other accessories. This year's allocation of Kshs105 million will be used to purchase a stand-by generator, further refurbishment of the security Press building, electrical works and purchase of furniture. Mr. Speaker, Sir, my Ministry requests this House to approve a gross Budget of Kshs29,858,008,650 of which Kshs26,578,812 is for Recurrent Expenditure while Kshs---"
}