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{
    "id": 442669,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/442669/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 163,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "June 18, 2014 SENATE DEBATES 32 Sen. Hargura",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": null,
    "content": "Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, that is what I am referring to. I support it as it is because the Motion clearly gives the legal interface between the two levels of government and even indicates that Article 247 of the Constitution allows for establishment of police formation to supplement the NPS. So, it is something based in the Constitution. My understanding of the metropolis is actually the city and its suburbs which is as it is right now, we are having challenges in terms of the number of police officers vis-à-vis the population. So, there is need to have a system to support, taking into account the high crime rates in the city and even the new types of crimes like terrorism, drug trafficking, human trafficking and so on. These crimes require a specialized force other than the regular police which covers the entire country and which may not give specialized attention to a specialized set up of population in a small area like Nairobi. Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, we still need not compromise the level of the police force required even if it is Nairobi. I can see here we are talking of the former city council askaris . This does not meet the level of a security force. So, for that to be realized, there must be proper training or even employing qualified and well-trained officers in the security system. Other countries which have this are like London Metropolitan. This is a properly trained police force which covers all the relevant areas of security. So, it is not expected that we shall upgrade the normal city askaris into a police force. We need a properly trained police force because we are trying to address a situation which is difficult even to be handled by the normally trained police. So, we are talking of properly trained police officers, properly equipped and with better security equipments. That will mean more investments and even proper coordination with the NPS because crime in the cities is not an isolated case. It is something which needs to be coordinated throughout the country. So, we require some infrastructure to establish this kind of metropolitan police system. Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, we should not forget that the Constitution provides that when you transfer a function, you also have to transfer the necessary funds. So, the Government has to be ready to transfer the funds for this kind of system to be achieved. Let me go back to my first comment, having the county governments getting involved in the security of the counties has its own downside. We are talking about infrastructure like procurement of vehicles. We are establishing new police stations and posts and providing housing. However, when it comes to having a say in the way the police service is being run, that is a different matter. There are some areas where we have more than one tribe, especially in northern Kenya where we have inter-ethnic strives. If the Governor from such an area was in control of the security system, that would make matters worse. That security may even be used against part of the community. So, we must look at how far we can go with this. Generally, it is better if security can be in the hands of the national Government. However, in urban areas like Nairobi where the crime rate cuts across and is very high, then it is better to have this kind of a system. I support with the rider that it is not applicable throughout the country."
}