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{
    "id": 29037,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/29037/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 751,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Prof. Ongeri",
    "speaker_title": "The Minister for Education",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 124,
        "legal_name": "Samson Kegeo Ongeri",
        "slug": "samson-ongeri"
    },
    "content": " Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, I rise to support this Bill. It is long overdue. For the first time, the powers and responsibilities of the police force and the administration police have been clearly spelt out. They have been brought under one unified command and, therefore, there will be no orders emanating from a specific commandant or Commissioner of Police, but it will be under one unified command, giving one direction and one purpose and one control. After all, their main function will be maintenance of peace and order. It is, therefore, very important that these functions are there for the efficient and transparent management of the service and also for the principles of equity and meritocracy to be applied. The Minister in charge had already enumerated the criteria that will be used for these police officers to be recruited into the service. One of the other areas that have attracted my attention and interest is the issue of border control. The inter-ethnic quarrels and border snippets have been a major issue of concern for the people at the county and rural levels. Now, for the first time, it is clear who is in charge of the border security through the Administration Police under the command of the Deputy Inspector-General. Therefore, there will be no passing of the buck to anybody; at least we now know which command is directly responsible for the maintenance of law and order, for the maintenance of security at the border between one ethnic group and the other. Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, only recently, we have been treated to a specter of many inter-ethnic quarrels and fights resulting into very serious deaths. I think now that the Administration Police know what they must do, it is my expectation that in the process of arranging their duty patrols, they will be able to work out with the neighbouring counties on how to counteract this menace which has been a very important feature in the police force. The other element which is commendable in this Bill is the involvement of citizens in the activities of the Police Force. It is the citizens who know where the shoe pinches. It is the citizens who know where the problem is. Without involving the citizens, we may be missing a very important and fundamental area of trying to keep Kenyans safe. Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, I also believe that this will also overcome these problems of inter-territorial border problems. We know who is in charge and who is responsible. Therefore, we do not have to quarrel about that. Part II of this Bill for the first time provides for the qualifications of who should be what in what rank. I think qualifications will be in accordance with the established qualification meritocracy list that is given through the normal educational programme and qualification framework which is so crucial and important for all of us."
}