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{
    "id": 416146,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/416146/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 69,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Hon. Midiwo",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 184,
        "legal_name": "Washington Jakoyo Midiwo",
        "slug": "jakoyo-midiwo"
    },
    "content": "Hon. Speaker, having said that I oppose this Bill, I want to delve into an area which I think this Parliament needs to deal with. I am addressing the Departmental Committee on Administration and National Security. As we speak today, those of us who have switched on phone lines that listen to the DCs, Chiefs and police officers know that there is an issue of security. They are saying that the Administration Police (APs) used to report to the DC but today the APs have refused to respond to the central command. So, you have a scenario in the country where the APs are now even on the road collecting money from matatus because nobody is controlling them and somebody is saying that one Inspector-General is supposed to send that command. However, they are only responding to command from the Deputy Inspector-General of Police who has no powers to command any more under the current structure. This is an issue that requires proper dialogue so that we can restore security. Right now, if hon. Members call their DCs and ask them about stock theft and robbery, the DCs will tell them that they have no power and the Members should ask the police. I want to commend hon. ole Lenku, the Cabinet Secretary for even attempting outside the Constitution to make the APs respond to chiefs. However, there is no law. That is the law that this House needs to deal with. We need to help the thinking of ole Lenku so that the APs can be utilized properly because we do not have enough police officers and as a result, are not available everywhere like the APs. I want to tell this House that despite what you want to do and despite the desire not to depart from the past, where police officers or the top police take instructions from politicians, there is a real issue. The issue of insecurity is as a result of the mix-up between the APs and the regular police. I have spoken to many senior officers who have said that unless we sort out this mess, there will be a problem. Lastly, let me say that we passed the Constitution and a subsidiary law which says that we must vet police officers. However, just like in the Judiciary, we have seen the vetting to mean victimization. Let me tell you something which scares me and scares many Kenyans, as you go out there to vet regular police corporals, suppose you put 20,000 or 2,000 on the streets because you do not think they are fit for the job, what will happen in this country in terms of security? Suppose you kick them out of their duties and they are the ones who are misbehaving out there, what will happen? What we needed to do is to recommend retraining of the police force and not victimization of police officers. Let us retrain even the senior police officers. We passed a new Constitution as a country to have a new beginning and not to victimize one another. It is some of those things that we have been pleading that let us, as a country, create national dialogue. Let us do away with the bad parts of this Constitution. Many people are feeling victimized but I can tell you that if you put 5,000 ordinary police officers on the street, nobody will walk in the streets. I want to plead with you, Chairman of Administration and National Security Committee; through hon. Speaker to engage the police service, and tell them to assess the effects of the The electronic version of the Official Hansard Report is for information purposes only. Acertified version of this Report can be obtained from the Hansard Editor."
}